Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/193

 COASTS OF AUSLIA. the east. The policy of the Dutch Government ap- pears to be that of keeping the world in ignorance of the importance and of the riches ofTimor; their object is, in fact, to retain possession of it at as little expense as possible, merely to prevent any other country from occupying it. Much jealousy exists between them and the Portuguese set- tlement of Diely, on the northern side about fifty leagues from Coepang; and our friend, Mr. Hazaart, was, at the time of our visit, in corres- pondence with the government of Batavia to ex- plain some political interferenee; on his part, with that settlement. The establishment at Coepang consists of the Resident, his Secretary, and forty Javanese ol- diets; besides which, it possesses a militia consisting of 1000 men, who bring their own provisions and arms to the field; and by this force the whole of the south-western part of the il__n_d, containing a population of perhaps 50,000 people, is kept in subjection. To solve this riddle, for such it must naturally appear to be, it should be explained that the Dutch have been accustomed to act' in the character of mediator between the several rajahs; and whil.t the Resident settles the disputes, 'he takes care at the same time to keep up the balance of power amongst these petty kings, who are constantly encroaclfing, upon the