The above rapid sketch will enable my readers to judge of the amount of
influence which the Dutch have the power of exerting in those regions;
how great a blessing they might prove to thousands and thousands of
their fellow-creatures, if they acted in accordance with the divine
precepts of Christianity, and as civilised and enlightened men should
act. Surely, if they do not, their kingdom will be taken from them and
given to another.
The evening of our arrival, Fairburn and I drove out to see the city and
its environs, in a sort of caleche, drawn by two ponies, and driven by a
Javanese boy, in a round japanned hat, like a china punch-bowl. The
roads are lined on either side with fine avenues of trees arching
overhead. We passed numerous villages, or kampongs as they are called,
and many country houses, of good size, lighted up with lamps. In front
of most of them were parties of ladies and gentlemen drinking coffee or
wine, or smoking, or chatting, or playing at cards. We met several
carriages with ladies in them in full dress, passed over numerous wooden
bridges, and were much struck with the brilliant fire-flies which were
flitting about among the trees. On re-entering the town, we passed
large arched gateways leading to particular quarters, and remarked in
that inhabited by the Chinese, the grotesque-looking houses, lit up with
large paper-lanterns, of gaudy colours, and Chinese inscriptions or
monsters on them, and the long rows of Chinese characters up and down
the door-posts, or over the windows. After the quiet of the sea, our
senses were confused by the strange cries, and the Babel of languages
which resounded in our ears from the crowds of people who swarmed along
the streets in every variety of Eastern dress. There was the half-naked
coolie; the well-clothed Citinese, in a loose white coat, like a
dressing-gown; the Arab merchant, in his flowing robes; and the Javanese
gentleman, in smart jacket and trousers, sash and sarong, or petticoat,
a curious penthouse-like hat or shade, and a strange-handled kriss stuck
in his girdle. We could scarcely help laughing, when in our drive we
met our corpulent Chinese gentleman, in a white dressing-gown-looking
affair, smooth head, and a long pigtail, weighing down one side of a
very English-looking little pony gig, driven by a smart Javanese boy,
with the usual china punch-bowl worn by postilions, on his head. The
Chinese flock here, as they do everywhere in the East, where money is to
be made, in spite of all obstacles; and numbers of coolies, or porters,
are to be found ready to carry anything or to go anywhere. The lower
class of Chinese frequently act as pedlars; and we met several of them
with two wicker cases slung on a bamboo yoke, selling drapery, or fruit,
and other eatables; sometimes with a portable stove to cook them, or
keep them hot.
On the following day I stopped one of these pedlars, who had, besides
his cutlery, a display of ordinary jewels and female ornaments to sell.
I was induced to do so, as I wished to purchase some trifle to give to
little Maria as a parting gift. While I was looking over his stores, my
eye fell on a brooch which was evidently of English workmanship. It
struck me that it would answer my purpose by serving to fasten my young
friend's shawl, so I took it up to examine it more carefully. As I held
it in my hand, I could not help fancying that I had seen it before. The
idea grew stronger as I dwelt on it--my memory rushed back in an instant
to the days of my childhood, and scenes long forgotten rose up before my
eyes--my feelings grew intense--my heart beat quick--I gasped for
breath. Yes, I was certain that very brooch which I held in my hand I
had remembered since my infancy. Often had I gazed at it with delight.
It was a cameo of exquisite workmanship, representing the three Graces,
and had belonged to my kind friend, Mrs Clayton. I used to call one of
the figures Mrs Clayton, another Ellen Barrow, and the third I said
must be my mother. The pedlar's eyes opened wider than any Chinese eyes
were opened before, as he gazed at me with astonishment. He began to
think that the jewel was some charm which had bewitched me, or that I
was going into a fit. He, of course, could not guess the cause of my
agitation; and I recovered my presence of mind in sufficient time to
avoid telling him. I found that he set but slight value on the
ornament, and infinitely preferred to it some glittering stores with gay
tints. I looked over the remainder of his stores, keeping my eye
constantly on the brooch to see that he did not remove it; but I did not
find anything else which I could recognise. I then bought a bracelet
for Maria, and a ring of trifling value, and next asked him carelessly
for how much he would sell the brooch in case I wished to buy it. My
coolness made him lower the price from what, when he first discovered
the curiosity with which I regarded it, he intended to ask. He demanded
a very moderate sum, which I paid him, and calmly put the jewel in my
pocket. Had our conversation been carried on in a language I spoke
fluently, I should certainly have betrayed the secret of my agitation by
some hasty exclamation; but having to stop and consider the meaning of
each word before I used it, gave me time to grow calm. The time had now
come for me to put the inquiries I longed to make.
"By-the-bye, my friend, that jewel looks as if it were made in a country
I have visited. How did you obtain it?" I asked with an unconcerned
manner.
He looked at me with his keen eyes, as he replied, "I bought it with
others to stock my cases."
"Were there many others of the same description?" I inquired.
"Why do you ask?" he said, eyeing me sharply.
"Because it is an unusual ornament to see in this part of the world," I
replied.
"Yes, I bought a few other things, rings and other ornaments, and some
European cutlery and arms, made in the land you come from," he answered.
"Your countrymen are very great in arms, and knives, and bales of
cotton goods; and if we had not these dreadful taxes, we should purchase
a large quantity from them."
"That is very true," I remarked. "But as you were saying, you have not
had the jewels many months; tell me, how did you procure them?"
"I bought them in the way of trade," he answered briefly.
"I suppose so; but when, and from whom, I am curious to know," I asked.
He was determined not to give me the information I required in a hurry.
"What makes you wish to know?" he said.
My patience was sorely tried; and I began to fear that he had some
reasons for not telling me. I tried, however to disguise my feelings.
"People take fancies into their heads sometimes," I said. "Now, I have
taken a fancy to trace where that same brooch, which I have just bought
of you, came from; and as I always repay those who gratify my whims, I
do not think you will be the loser if you tell me."
"My answer is, that I bought it in the fair way of trade, and I can say
no more," he replied, preparing, with an obstinate look, to put his
bamboo yoke over his shoulder, and to walk away.
"Then you will lose a good customer for your folly," I observed, feeling
now that the more anxiety I displayed the less likely he would be to
give me a true answer.
"However, if you think better of it, come to me to-morrow at my hotel,
and perhaps I may be disposed to make some more purchases of you. But,
my friend, remember a wise merchant takes a good offer when it is made
to him."
"You have not made me an offer," he observed.
"What! do you expect to be paid simply for giving me a bit of
information which cost you nothing, and cannot benefit you to keep?" I
said, laughing. "However, as you value it so highly, I will give you
the price of the brooch if you enable me in any way to trace where it
came from." The fellow, cunning as he was, was for a moment outwitted,
and did not suspect the trembling anxiety with which I waited for his
account.
"Well, then, you must know that two months ago I sailed from hence in a
trading schooner to visit the island of Timor, where I wished to
transact some mercantile business with the Portuguese. I can sometimes
drive a bargain with them when I fail with the Dutch, who are very
keen--too keen to please me. Have you ever been to Timor?"
"No," I answered, with some little impatience; "no; but go on with your
story."
"I thought not," he continued, with provoking slowness. "Timor is a
large island, and a fine island, but not so large or so fine as Java.
The Dutch have possessions in some part of it, as well as the
Portuguese, and a good many of my countrymen are found there. It
produces, too, a clever race of little horses--very clever little
horses."
"But what has that to do with the brooch?" I exclaimed, foolishly
losing all my patience. "Go on with your story without further delay."
The fellow saw by the expression of my countenance that I was really
anxious about the matter; and hoping, probably, to get better paid for
his information another day, he pretended to remember that he had his
goods to sell, and shouldering his bamboo, with his cases hanging at
either end of it, off he marched, uttering aloud his cries to attract
customers. I called him back; I felt inclined to rush after him--to
seize him--to force the information from him; but he would not listen,
and he was soon lost among the motley crowd I have described. I felt
almost sure that he would come back the next day but in the meantime I
was left in a state of the most cruel anxiety. Here was the best clue I
had yet met with almost within my grasp, to guide me in my search for
Eva and Mrs Clayton, and I was not allowed to reach it. The time had
arrived for me to join Mr Scott, who had invited me to accompany him to
his country house, about three miles from the town. The road led us
past numerous kampongs and country houses, all the way being under lofty
trees, which were made to arch overhead, and to afford a most grateful
shade.
On our way, I mentioned my meeting with the pedlar.
"Should you know him again?" he asked.
"Among a hundred others," I replied.
"Oh, then, there will be little difficulty in making him tell the
truth," he observed, with a smile. "If he does not do so of his own
accord, I will get the resident to interfere, and he has wonderful
methods of making a dumb Chinaman open his mouth. We will see about it
the first thing to-morrow; for I agree with you, that the fellow's
information may be of great value."
So it was arranged, and my mind was somewhat tranquillised. My new
friend's residence was like most country houses built by the Dutch in
the island--long and low, and consisting only of one storey. In the
centre was the chief room, of good size, opening both in front and
behind, by two large door-ways, into spacious verandahs, as large as the
room itself, and supported by pillars. In each of the wings were three
good bedrooms. It stood in an enclosure of about an acre, with
coach-house, stables, and servants' houses and offices. The floors were
formed of tiles, and in the principal room a cane matting was used. As
it grew dusk, several people came in, some in carriages, and some on
foot, and we had a good deal of amusing conversation, while cigars were
smoked, and coffee, wine, and liqueurs were handed round. The Javanese
were described as an excellent and faithful race of people, patient,
good-tempered, faithful, and very handy and ingenious. A man who is a
carpenter one day, will turn a blacksmith next, or from a farmer will
speedily become a sailor; and a gentleman told me of a servant who,
after having lived with him many years, begged to be allowed to go to
sea, giving as his only reason, that he was tired of seeing the same
faces every day. I partook of a curious fruit, of which the natives are
very fond, called the Durinan. It required some resolution to overcome
my repugnance to the scent, which is most powerful. The flavour is very
peculiar; and I can best describe it as like rich custard and boiled
onions mixed together.
There are about 60,000 inhabitants in Sourabaya. The lower orders of
Javanese are a broadly built race of people, seldom above the middle
height. The men, when actively employed, have on generally no other
garment than a tight cloth round the loins; but at other times they wear
a sarong, which is a long piece of coloured cotton wrapped round the
waist, and hanging down to the knee. They sometimes add a jacket of
cloth or cotton. The women seem to delight most in garments of a
dark-blue colour, in shape something like a gown and petticoat; but the
neck and shoulders are frequently left bare, and the sarong or gown is
wrapped tightly under the armpits and across the bosom.
Both men and women wear their hair long, and turned up with a large
comb, so that at a distance it is difficult to distinguish one from the
other. The latter have no covering for the head, but the men wear
conical hats, made of split bamboo.
A Javanese gentleman usually wears a handkerchief round his head, a
smart green or purple velvet or cloth jacket with gold buttons, a shirt
with gold studs, loose trousers and sometimes boots, and a sarong or
sash, in the latter of which is always carried a kriss ornamented with
gold and diamonds. The Chinese, as elsewhere, are a plump, clean, and
good-tempered-looking people; they, as well as other people from the
neighbouring countries, are under charge of a captain or headman, who is
answerable for their good conduct. The Dutch troops, dressed in
light-blue and yellow uniforms, and mustering upwards of two thousand
infantry, besides artillery and cavalry, consist of Javanese, Madurese,
and Bugis, with Negroes and Europeans, frequently Dutch convicts who, to
escape punishment at home, have volunteered to serve in the army in
Java. What can one think of the character of an army composed of such
men? and how much more calculated must they be to injure and demoralise
than to protect the people, and to maintain order, which is the only
legitimate object of a military body! I hope that my readers are not
tired with my long account of the Javanese. The next morning I returned
to the town with Mr Scott, and immediately set out in search of the
pedlar. I was not long in finding him, for he was hovering about the
hotel in hopes of having another deal with me. He did not suspect that
I had friends who could apply to the authorities to make him give me the
information I required. I had my young Javanese guide watching, who
instantly ran off to call Mr Scott, while I held the pedlar in close
conversation. On Mr Scott's appearance, the impudent look of the man
instantly changed to one of submissive respect.
"I thought you were a wise man, Chin Fi," began my friend, who appeared
to know him. "Here is a gentleman offers you a handsome reward for a
bit of trifling information, and you refuse to give it him; how is
this?"
"Though the information is trifling, the young gentleman seemed very
eager to get it," answered Chin Fi, recovering himself. "But I am a
reasonable man, and was about to give it when he interrupted me
yesterday."
"Continue your story, then," said Mr Scott, aware, however, that he was
not speaking the truth. "You were in the island of Timor when you
procured the brooch in question."
"I observed that I went to the island of Timor; but I did not say that I
got the brooch there," answered Chin Fi.
"Come, come, you are taking up our time uselessly. Where did you get it
then?" exclaimed Mr Scott. "I must take other means of learning if you
longer delay." And he looked in the direction of the Resident's house.
The Chinese guessed his intentions, and observed, "Well, if the
gentleman will give me the price he offered, I will afford him all the
information I possess. Knowledge is of value; and I am a poor man, and
cannot give it without a return."
On his saying this, I took out the proposed sum and put it into Mr
Scott's hands, who gave it him, saying, "Now remember, Chin Fi, if you
wish to prosper, tell all you know about the matter."
"I will," said the pedlar, finding that he would gain nothing by further
delay. "You must know that while I was in Timor, I was engaged in
purchasing such merchandise as I thought would suit the taste of the
people of this country. To obtain a passage back, I went to the Dutch
settlement of Coupang. One day, having just transacted some affairs
with a merchant, I was walking along the quay by the water's side, when
I observed a young Javanese lad following me. I happened to have
remarked him while I was speaking to the merchant. He continued
following me till I got into a narrow lane, where no one else happened
to be; and he then came up to me, and said he had something to sell if I
was inclined to buy. I asked him to show me his goods, and he pulled
out a handkerchief from his breast, with some rings, a gold chain, and
two brooches, one of which I sold yesterday to this gentleman. I
purchased them of him, and asked him if he had any more. He said that
he could not tell me; and I then inquired how he procured them. He
answered it was a matter about which I had nothing to do, and being of
his opinion I questioned him no further; but as I wished to have more
dealings with him, I resolved to try and find out where he went. When
he parted from me he took the way to the quay; and as from his dress and
the look of his hands I suspected that he belonged to one of the vessels
in the harbour, I went and hid myself in a spot where I could watch
every part of the landing-place.
"I had waited about a couple of hours, when a boat came on shore from a
European brig, lying outside all the other vessels, and presently two
Englishmen or Americans, with two or three Malays, came down in company
with the young Javanese lad, who was staggering under a heavy load of
yams, shaddocks, bananas, cocoa-nuts, and other fruit and vegetables.
It is odd, I thought, that this boy who has so much money at his
command, should be made to do the work of a slave. I suspected that
there was something irregular, and that the lad had either stolen the
jewels or was selling them for some one else. I made inquiries about
the brig, and found that she was an American, and had put in for water
and provisions; but for her name, I can neither remember it, nor
pronounce it, probably, if I did. I expected next day to find that the
brig had gone, and to hear no more about the matter; but there she still
was, and who should I meet but the Javanese lad walking by himself in a
disconsolate manner near the quay? I beckoned him to me, and asked him
if he had any more jewels to sell; but he answered, No; and that he
wished he had not sold those, as it had done no good."
"I inquired what he meant; but for some time he would not answer, till I
persuaded him that I was his friend, and that I by chance knew some of
his relatives. He then told me that the jewels had belonged to an
English lady, who was kept on board the brig against her will, and that
she had employed him to sell them, in the hopes of being able to bribe
some one to help her to escape, or to carry intelligence of her position
to the authorities of any port at which the brig might touch. The lad,
who seemed in many respects very simple-minded and honest, said that he
wanted to get away, but dared not--that he had not originally belonged
to the brig, but was taken out of another vessel, and made to work on
board her, his chief employment lately being to attend on the lady in
the cabin."
While he was speaking, several seamen came out of an arrack shop some
way off. He caught sight of them and hurried off to the quay. They all
jumped into the boat, and pulled away for the brig as fast as their oars
could send her through the water. Instantly the vessel's sails were
loosed, her anchor was weighed, and she stood out to sea. Soon
afterwards, a Dutch ship of war came in, and a boat from the shore going
out to meet her, without dropping her anchor she made sail in the
direction the brig had taken.
"Did she overtake the brig?" I inquired eagerly.
"I do not know," replied the pedlar. "I came away before the
man-of-war's return, and had not again thought of the circumstances till
your inquiries recalled them to my memory."
Believing that the Chinese had given me a faithful account, I further
rewarded him, and dismissed him, highly satisfied with the transaction.
It must not be supposed that he used the words I have written, for I
have given a very free translation of his story, which was in very
flowery language, and occupied much more time than mine will to read. I
cross-questioned him also about Eva; but he had heard nothing of a
little girl, nor had he suspected that the brig was a pirate.
Mr Scott, however, agreed with me that there was every probability of
her having been the _Emu_, and that my first point of inquiry should be
at Timor, while I also should endeavour to fall in with the man-of-war
which had chased her. It was suggested that I might most likely hear of
the man-of-war at Batavia, and that I should endeavour to touch there.
Oh, how I longed to have my schooner ready for the enterprise!