Page:Max Havelaar; or, the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company (IA dli.granth.77827).pdf/120

 and Havelaar had to repeat the question, before the Controller replied—

“Yes, he has a very large family.”

“And do they build Medjiets in the province?” Havelaar continued, again in a tone which, quite in contradiction with the words, seemed to express his belief that there was some connexion between these mosques and the large family of the Regent.

Verbrugge answered that indeed much labour was bestowed on the mosques.

“Yes, yes, just as I thought,” replied Havelaar. “And now tell me if they are much in arrear with their land-taxes?”

“Yes, there is room for improvement”

“Exactly so, and above all things in the district ‘Parang-Koodjang,’ ” added Havelaar, as if he thought it easier to reply himself.

“What does the taxation of this year amount to?” he continued; and Verbrugge hesitating a moment, as if to consider his reply, Havelaar anticipated him in the same breath—

“Very well, very well, I know it already—sixty-eight thousand and a few hundreds—fifteen thousand more than last year—but only six thousand more than in the year 1845—we have made since 1843 an augmentation of eight thousand—and the population too is very thin—yes, in