Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/466

 M2 DUTCH HISTORY Constant anarchy, and frequent rebellions, were the certain results of this policy. One of the most memorable examples of the ef- fects of this policy is afforded in the story of the celebrated Surapati, which is narrated at some length in the native history of Java, This person, a native of Bali, and the slave of a Dutch citizen of Batavia, goaded by domestic cruelty, «and en- couraged by the general anarchy which surrounded him, escaped from his slavery, and, favoured by * circumstances, but not less by the ascendancy of a superior courage and genius, admirably suited to his situation, defied the whole power of the Dutch, and founded an independent principality, which he and his family, in defiance of the power of the Dutch, and ultimately of the Susunan, held for twenty years. While struggling with this formidable adversary, the Dutch involved themselves in the war of the succession to the throne of Java. They declared in favour of a rebel prince, and incurred all the expences and hazards of a five years' contest by this step. At length, by an act of treachery, they secured the person of their enemy, and banished him to a distant and foreign country. For ten years after this event, the island was in_ volved in a variety of wars and rebellions, which had their origin in the policy which I have attempt- ed to describe, and in the busy, but unskilful am- bition of the Dutch administration. It was the