Page:Max Havelaar Or The Coffee Sales of the Netherlands Trading Company Siebenhaar.djvu/68

 ence those titles gained above that of Baron. Even to this day many a baronial family—without imperial or royal letters patent, i.e. such family as derives its nobility from the origin of the land, one that was noble  it was noble—autochthonous—would decline elevation to the rank of Count as derogatory. There are instances of this.

Naturally the persons charged with the government of such a country sought to obtain sanction from the Emperor that their sons, or, in the absence of these, their relatives, should succeed them in their office. This, in fact, happened usually, though I do not believe that the right to such succession was ever realized, at least as regards those office-bearers in, for instance the Counts of Holland, Zealand, Hainault or Flanders, the Dukes of Brabant, Guelderland, etc. It was at first a favour, then a custom, and finally a necessity, but never became this form of heredity law.

Approximately in the same manner—as regards the choice of the persons, as here there is no question of equality in the duties, although even in this respect a certain correspondence is noticeable—there is at the head of a division in Java a native official who combines the rank given him by the Government with his influence, in order to facilitate the management of affairs to the officer who represents  rule. Here also heredity, without being consolidated by law, has become a custom. Already during the lifetime of the Regent these affairs are most often arranged, and it counts as a reward for zeal and faithful service when he receives the promise that he will be succeeded in his position by his son. It requires very important reasons to depart from this rule, and where this should be the case, the successor is nevertheless usually chosen from the members of the same family.

The relation between European officials and such highly placed Javanese grandees is of a very delicate nature. The Assistant-Resident of a division is the responsible person. He has his instructions, and is supposed to be the head of the division. Yet in