Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/408

 564^ SEQUEL or JAVANESE HISTOIlY. certed in a secret negociation, and wouW have beeii carried into effect, had not some of the Javanese chiefs revolted at the atrocious proposal. The scheme which they substituted, to be sure, is in wickedness inferior to it only in extent. They proposed to the Chinese chiefs to make a sacrifice of their wounded to save appearances on their part with the Dutch, and what is more wonderful, the Chinese acceded to it. The Chinese forces accord- ingly marched from their encampment unmolest- ed, leaving their sick behind them. These unfortu- nate people were immediately butchered by the Ja- vanese, " and their heads being struck off, were sent in baskets to the Dutch commandant of Samarang, in toke?i of their fidelity to their engagements,^* The Chinese having retreated, accompanied, how- ever, by a number of Javanese, who still adhered to them, they were follow^ed by the Javanese force, commanded by the first minister Noto-kusumOy the prime mover of the conspiracy against the Dutch, and a perfect pattern of dissimulation. He and the Chinese perfectly understood each other, but ^ thought it necessary to fight a mock battle, the more thoroughly to hoodwink the Dutch. The Chinese acceded to the proposal, but not under- standing how such matters were conducted, they thought it necessary to consult their Javanese col- leagues. The answer given by the latter affords the most undisguised and impudent specimen of orient-