A DINNER-PARTY.
A few hours later our sportsmen were seated at table in the pandoppo
of the Controller's house at Banjoe Pahit. Fritz Mokesuep, however,
we need hardly say, was not of the party. William Verstork was a man
who, as a rule, could put up with a good deal; but on this occasion
he had not cared to conceal the aversion with which that individual
inspired him.
As soon as poor Dalima had been properly attended to, and under
escort of a policeman, had been sent off in a tandoe as a prisoner
to Santjoemeh, the Controller had told Mokesuep, in pretty plain
language, that, after what had taken place between him and Grenits,
his company could very well be dispensed with.
"It seems to me," had been Mokesuep's reply, "that the person who
inflicted the insult is the one that ought to stand aside."
"Such, no doubt would, under ordinary circumstances, have been my
opinion also," returned Verstork, with icy coolness; "but before I can
consent to receive you as my guest, you will have to explain to me,
in a satisfactory way, how you came to be in this hut, so far from
the hunting-ground, and just at the time when the young girl was so
shamefully ill-used."
"She has not been--" interrupted Mokesuep.
"Now, pray do not mistake me," resumed Verstork, "I said ill-used,
at the present moment I make use of no stronger expression. We found
her here half-naked and bleeding, and she was calling upon us for
help. She had, therefore, evidently been ill-treated, at present I
say nothing more than that. She suffered this ill-treatment in your
presence--in your presence, who pretend to be a gentleman; and I
repeat what I said just now, you will have to give me satisfactory
proof that it was not in your power to assist or defend this poor
young girl before I will consent to receive you under my roof."
"But, Mr. Verstork--!"
"If you can clear yourself of the suspicion which, perhaps very
unjustly, at present rests upon you, I can assure you that nothing
will give me greater pleasure than to hold out my hand to you, indeed
you will find me the first to do so, unless my friend Grenits should
forestall me."
"In that case," said Grenits, "Mr. Mokesuep will find me perfectly
prepared to give him any satisfaction he may require."
"Satisfaction!" sneered Mokesuep, "never you mind about that, I know
well enough how to get satisfaction!"
"You refuse then," continued Verstork coldly, "to furnish me with
the explanations I require?"
"I owe you no explanations whatever, Mr. Verstork," cried Mokesuep,
"I intend to reserve my explanations for the Resident's ear."
"Very well, sir, just as you please," replied Verstork. "In that case
I have nothing further to say to you," and with a stiff, formal bow
he added: "Pray let me not detain you any longer."
Mokesuep ground his teeth with rage at this direct dismissal; he
flung his rifle over his shoulder, and, accompanied by Lim Ho and
Singomengolo, who had stood by as silent spectators of the scene,
without understanding much of what was going on, he hurried away in
the direction of Santjoemeh.
As he went he cried, "You shall pay for this, Mr. Verstork. I shall
have my revenge!"
It was a terrible threat, no doubt; but it did not take away the
appetite of our friends; and so, as we have said before, a few hours
after found them seated at the table in the pandoppo of the Controller
at Banjoe Pahit.
The pandoppo of the Controller's house could not, in size or extent, be
compared with the splendid gallery in the stately residential mansion
at Santjoemeh. But, for that very reason, it was more homely and more
comfortable. It lacked the vast empty spaces between the columns,
reminding one of a big market-hall, and it had not the lofty roof which
made one think of a cathedral. It was, in fact, much more like a cosy
sitting-room, and to this air of homely comfort, the tasteful manner
in which Verstork had furnished it, contributed not a little. Indeed,
this pandoppo was Verstork's ordinary sitting-room, and a very pleasant
retreat it was. The big windows, all of them furnished with venetian
blinds, gave free access to the breeze, while, on the sunny side,
they could be closed so as to exclude the heat; and thus within that
gallery it was always deliciously cool. The entire house moreover
was surrounded by trees encircling it as with a crown of verdure, and
their pleasant shade tempered the glaring light of the tropical day.
There, William Verstork used to sit whenever his presence was not
required in his office. There, at sunrise, he sipped his early cup of
coffee, there he breakfasted and used to dine. There again he was wont
to enjoy his papers and periodicals as in the afternoon he took a cup
of tea, and used to dream away the evenings musing within himself,
and often wondering whether, in such a place, it was well for a man
to be alone.
At any time of the day this pandoppo was a pleasant retreat, and
specially gay and comfortable did it look now when the host had
gathered his friends around his table.
The very table itself contributed to the gaiety and brightness of
the scene.
On that board were displayed the inevitable bowls of rice, cooked
by steaming in conical baskets of bamboo, every grain snow-white,
distinct and separate. And with this standing dish of rice were
served up in small saucers, an endless variety of soups, vegetables,
sauces, pickles, and condiments of all kinds. There were chicken-broth,
fish-soup, and other thicker kinds of soup. Then a variety of dishes
flavoured with Spanish pepper, among which devilled shrimps, devilled
eggs, the celebrated little red-fish of Macassar, the bean of the
Paskia speciosa and the famous "pirate pepper," so called no doubt on
account of its extreme pungency. The more substantial dishes consisted
of meat and fish, such as jerked beef, smoked venison, roast or boiled
joints, boiled and braised fowl, and a delicious fresh water fish,
the Olfromeus Olfax. These and other dishes, too numerous to mention,
are generally served up at a complete and well appointed dinner--or
as they call it in Java--rice table.
But the object which specially attracted the attention of our
Luculluses as they entered the pandoppo, and which made them smack
their lips in anticipation of a rare feast, was a sucking pig which
stood conspicuous in the centre of the table in a capacious dish. It
was roasted whole, was standing upright on its four legs, and had
a lemon in its snout. It was a product of the day's hunting, one of
the first victims, in fact, which had fallen, and had at once been
taken home by one of Verstork's servants to play a prominent part in
the entertainment.
Every one of the guests did full justice to the good fare, and
all proved themselves to be right valiant trenchermen; but though
the grinders were kept busily at work, and though the palates fully
appreciated the highly flavoured and succulent dishes, yet the tongues
were by no means allowed to remain idle, nor was the conversation
suffered to flag around the hospitable board. The reader may well
believe there was plenty to talk about.
"That confounded Muizenkop!" quoth Theodoor Grenits, "why, the fellow
very nearly made me lose my temper."
"Come, come, don't mention him," replied van Rheijn, "his very name
would take away one's appetite."
"By Jove," cried August van Beneden, "that sucking pig is a most
delicious morsel."
"Very nice, indeed," remarked van Rheijn. "But, how many of those
chaps have we bowled over I wonder?"
"That I cannot tell you," said Verstork.
"But," resumed van Beneden, "we ought to know the number in order
that we may be able to judge in how far our expedition may be called
successful. How shall we find out?"
"Patience, August, patience," said Verstork with a smile.
"All right, William," continued van Beneden, "you know I have no
great stock of that commodity. I wonder how many of those beasts we
have knocked over. I saw a good number of them sprawling about."
"The wedono will be here presently with his report," replied Verstork.
"The wedono! Yes, he has disappeared--where can he have got to?"
"Well," said Verstork, "I ordered him and the two loerahs to make a
careful search in the Djoerang Pringapoes. He will no doubt soon be
here to tell us the result of our day's work."
The words were scarcely spoken, before one of the oppassers came in
to announce the arrival of the dessa-chief.
"Show him in!" cried Verstork.
"Well, Wedono," he continued with a smile, "I see you come to share
our rice-table, that is very kind of you, I am glad to see you."
The Javanese chief, however, had recoiled in terror. Had the
conscientious Mohammedan been a Roman Catholic he would most assuredly
have crossed himself. As it was he merely muttered in the direst
confusion, "Excuse me, Kandjeng toean! You know that we are not
allowed to eat pork."
"But, you can take something else, Wedono--there is beef on the table
and fowl and duck and fish--anything you like in fact."
"Thank you, Kandjeng toean, thank you; but all these things have
been cooked in the same kitchen as the sucking pig, and, you know
our religion forbids us--"
"I am sorry for it, Wedono," replied Verstork.
"I came here, Kandjeng toean," continued the chief, "to give you my
report of the day's hunting."
"Very well, Wedono!"
"Seventeen pigs great and small have been killed. The Chinamen at
Kaligaweh and at Banjoe Pahit have bought the carcases from the
village people and are now busy carting them away."
"Ah, Wedono, those Chinamen know what is good," said Verstork.
"I suppose so, Kandjeng toean," replied the dessa-chief with a
forced smile.
"That is a pretty good number I think--is it not, Wedono?" remarked
van Rheijn. "Do you think," he continued, "that we have pretty well
exterminated them?"
"Pretty nearly," answered the wedono. "A number of our people have
gone after the pigs that broke away and have dispatched several of
them. There are but a very few left and they have sought for refuge
in the high mountain land, so that I do not think that we shall be
troubled any more by that mischievous brood."
"Well then, my friends," cried Verstork elated at the success of his
expedition, "we may say that we have done a good morning's work. Here's
good luck to Banjoe Pahit and the dessa-folk!"
All the guests sprang to their feet and raised their glasses. Van
Rheijn thrust a tumbler of beer into the wedono's hand--and with a
joyous "hip, hip, hip, hurrah!" a toast was drunk to the inhabitants
of the district who had been delivered from their troublesome visitors.
"Has the Kandjeng toean any further orders for me?" asked the
wedono. "If not I will beg leave to retire."
"Yes, Wedono--there is something else. In the entrance of the Djoerang
Pringapoes there lies a very big old boar, you will know him by his
long tusks--I very much wish to have the head."
"Excellent, excellent," exclaimed van Beneden, "Une hure de sanglier
à la sauce piquante, that will be a rare treat!"
"Hush, August!" said Verstork and, turning again to the wedono he
continued, "Then further, I want you at once to open the inquiry in
the matter of Dalima."
"Certainly, Kandjeng toean."
"And come to me presently--I must have some talk with you about
that affair."
"Very good, Kandjeng toean."
"Presently," cried van Beneden, "presently why--" and then he struck up
"We won't go home till morning ...
Till daylight doth appear."
The entire company joined in the well-known old tune. When the noise
had somewhat subsided, Verstork continued;
"Duty, my friends, before pleasure. You will presently go and have your
afternoon nap, then you will take a bath. I shall pursue this inquiry
with the help of the wedono. This evening it is my intention to return
to Santjoemeh with you; for the first thing to-morrow morning I must
have an interview with the Resident. You have understood me, Wedono,
have you not?"
"Yes, Kandjeng toean."
"Very good then, I will not detain you."
With a courtly bow, the dessa-chief took leave of the company and
retired.
The dinner went on; but the mention of Dalima had somewhat dashed the
high spirits of the guests. The recollection of the sad event of the
morning seemed to cast a chill over them all and to sober down even
the merriest of the party.
"Poor little Dalima!" sighed Grashuis, after a few moments' silence
during which he had been discussing a duck's wing, "Poor little
Dalima! could she be guilty of smuggling opium?"
"Get along with you," cried van Beneden. "Does that pretty little
thing look like a smuggler?"
"Take care, August," said van Rheijn with a laugh, "a lawyer ought
not to allow himself to be influenced by outward appearance. Am I
not right, Charles?"
Van Nerekool was not there and then ready with an answer to this
appeal; he was in fact busily employed in removing the bones from a
splendid slice of fish. But after a moment's pause he said:
"Certainly not--yet, for all that I also am firmly persuaded of the
girl's innocence."
"Of course, of course--the baboe of nonna Anna, eh Charles--cela va
sans dire?"
"But," remarked van Rheijn, "the thing that puzzles me is that the
opium was found upon her."
"Do you believe that?" asked another.
"Well I don't know what to say, there is Muizenkop's testimony."
"What! would you take that scoundrel's word?"
"Aye, aye," said Verstork very seriously, "the whole business looks
ugly enough."
"As far as I can see," said Grashuis, "there is but one hope left,
and that is that nonna Anna may have influence enough with her father
to get the affair hushed up."
A bitter smile curled van Nerekool's lip, but he uttered not a word.
"Now if Lim Ho, the son of the opium farmer, were not mixed up in the
matter," said Verstork musingly, "why then you might have some reason
for that hope--yes--then I think things might be squared; but now--"
"But," exclaimed van Beneden interrupting his friend, "can you for
a moment suspect that the judicial power--?"
"My dear friend--my good August," replied Verstork, "a highly placed
judicial functionary here in Dutch India once spoke these words:
'The opium trade lies upon this country as a heavy curse--it has
impressed its stamp upon everything, alas, even upon our courts of
justice.' I think I am right, Charles?"
Van Nerekool nodded affirmatively.
"Well," said van Rheijn, "all that is very sad, a very sad state of
things indeed; but the worst of it is that the use of opium makes
opium-farming a necessary evil."
"What nonsense you do talk!" cried Grenits impatiently.
"But Theodoor!"
"But Edward!"--
"If the abuse of opium did not exist, then surely there would at once
be an end of opium-farming. You will allow that I think?"
"Oh yes," replied Grenits, "that sounds very plausible no doubt;
but now supposing I were to retort by saying if there were no
opium-monopoly then the abuse of the drug would never have assumed
its present proportions? That does not perhaps sound so pleasant;
but it is a statement which is more easily verified."
"Oh yes, yes, we heard all about that last night; unfortunately
however, the proof was not forthcoming."
"Well," said Grenits, "what does history say?"
"History," replied the other, "what you call history is neither more
nor less than the personal opinion and utterance of the historian. One
man contends that Europeans brought opium into the country, and
another holds a different view--so much for history."
"But Edward, I hope you do not distrust the Council of India?"
"Well what does the Council say, Theodoor?"
"If my memory serves me, it says this, or words to this effect:
'The opium monopoly has always been most anxiously watched by the
Government as one of the most important sources of public revenue,
and every means of enhancing the productiveness of that source of
income has been most eagerly adopted.'"
"Aye, aye," returned van Rheijn; "but is all this true?"
"Why," said Grenits, "I hope, Edward, you do not doubt my word?"
"Not in the least, my dear fellow, not in the least. I am quite ready
to admit that your quotation is accurate; but was the Council properly
informed when it gave that opinion?"
"Well," replied Grenits, "if you go on like that, then we shall not
be able to trust anybody or anything. Those people are paid, and most
handsomely paid, to get the best and most trustworthy information. But
independently altogether of the Council's opinion, in which you seem
to have but little faith, tell me, does not the constantly rising
revenue from the farming of opium afford proof absolute of the truth
of the Council's word? Every successive year the estimate is higher
and higher."
"I know that," said van Rheijn, "but estimate and actual produce are
widely different things."
"True enough, they are sometimes widely different; but in this
particular case they are not. Heaven and earth are moved to reach the
figure at which the minister has estimated the revenue, and means
the most unfair, even the most criminal, are employed in order, if
possible, to surpass the sum at which the revenue has been placed. How
many a Netherland's Lion has been given away because, in this district
or in that, the produce of the opium contract has exceeded the figure
at which the minister put it! How proudly must the 'Virtus Nobilitat'
thus earned glitter upon the breast of its possessor!"
"But I want to know," remarked August van Beneden, "is the use of
opium really as injurious to the body as men say it is? We saw with
our own eyes last night that as far as morality is concerned it
has not much to recommend it; but how about its influence upon the
material body? We sometimes hear the word poisoning used; that very
term indeed was made use of last night, but it seems to me that it
is a system of poisoning under which a man may attain to a very good
old age, just as a man may grow old who drinks a glass or two of grog."
"Listen to me," said Verstork in a most serious tone. "We are sitting
here together, all, I hope, honest trustworthy men I can therefore
speak my mind freely and fearlessly before you, and I may without
reserve give you the conclusion to which a long and richly varied
experience has led me on the subject of opium.
"The habitual use of opium, even in comparatively moderate doses,
invariably leads to vitiation of the blood and constriction of the
vessels. This again gives rise to an asthmatic condition and to a
permanent and wasting and almost always incurable dysentery. These
are accompanied by the most distressing symptoms and intolerable
suffering. Upon the opium smoker, moreover, medicines begin gradually
to lose their effect, excepting the narcotic poisons in ever
increasing quantities. Hence the sufferer is driven to seek relief
in augmented doses of the poison, and if he cannot obtain these,
his condition becomes utterly unbearable. Yet to this suffering he
is doomed, unless he can pass from one fit of intoxication to the
other. Opium smoking is the only thing to alleviate the miseries of
the collapse which follows an opium debauch, and but few can afford
the continual drain of so expensive a remedy. Where a sufficient
quantity of good wholesome food is taken, these lamentable results
may be slow in showing themselves; and a generous and strengthening
diet has preserved many a man, for an entire lifetime, from the most
serious consequences of his pernicious habit. But even in these cases,
the state of the blood and the general condition of health are so bad,
that trifling ailments, such as an ordinary boil or a slight wound,
assume a most malignant character and often lead to fatal results;
and who can venture to say how many diseases, which depend upon
cachexia and which are so common in this country, are caused, or,
at all events, are greatly aggravated by the habitual use of opium?
"I spoke just now of a sufficient quantity of nutritive food; but we
know too well--and the Government also knows it--that but very few of
the natives can afford a supply of food which can be called either
sufficient or nutritious. It is well known how exceedingly meagre
the diet of the Javanese is, even among those who are in tolerably
good circumstances; and it is well known also that, even when he
can afford it, he very seldom makes use of food which is really
strengthening. And that diet, be it more or less generous, must of
necessity become more and more meagre when every day a considerable,
and ever more considerable portion of the wages is squandered in the
purchase of opium. Thus the enjoyment itself tends to make impossible
the only condition under which it might be indulged in with anything
like impunity.
"But, you will doubtless object--in such cases lack of money must
compel these people to limit themselves to a very moderate consumption,
and they will thus be preserved from the fatal effects of excessive
indulgence. Such, however, is not always the case. There are men,
and their number is by no means small, who in the days of their
prosperity have gradually accustomed themselves to a very considerable
consumption of the drug; and who, when all their worldly possessions
have vanished in clouds of intoxicating smoke, have been compelled
either to satisfy themselves with diminished doses of opium or
else to abstain from smoking altogether. It is difficult to fathom
the hopeless misery of such poor creatures. Further, experience has
proved, that very many whose daily consumption is strictly moderate,
yet at forty years of age and upwards suffer frightfully from the
ill effects of opium, especially of the most painful and incurable
dysentery. I myself have at Berbek, at Trengalek, at Santjoemeh, here
at Banjoe Pahit and elsewhere, cured a great number of such sufferers
with a certain remedy, and thus I have had ample opportunity to make
myself personally acquainted with the facts.
"Now, if with these unfortunate creatures we compare the thousands
who, at home, drink their couple of glasses of beer or of spirits,
then it will appear at a glance how much more pernicious is the use
of opium than the use of alcohol. The former indeed, is infinitely
more stupefying and deadening, and thus, very much more rapidly
than alcohol, it destroys the appetite; so that, even when plenty
of wholesome food is at hand, it either cannot be taken at all or
else loses much of its nutritive value. Confirmed opium smokers have
repeatedly told me that, in consequence of their pernicious habit,
they could eat only a few pinches of rice a day, whereas, when,
by the help of a remedy with which I supplied them, they were able
gradually to diminish their daily dose of opium, they could take ten
times the amount of nourishment.
"Then comes another point, and that is the extreme fascination and
seductiveness of opium, which causes the most pleasurable bodily
sensations, which fills the mind with glorious dreams, which, for a
while, removes all pain and suffering, while it, at the same time,
deadens much more effectually than strong drink, the mental faculties,
in this depressed race already sufficiently dormant, and thus the use
of opium holds its victim much more securely bound in the fetters of
his fatal passion, than the moderate use of alcohol enslaves anyone
at home.
"Having thus, by degrees, come to the influence of opium upon the mind
and the character, I must certainly not omit to draw your attention to
the selfishness and self-indulgence which it develops in the smoker;
to the ever-growing indifference to all his surroundings, even to his
own wife and children; to the listless indolence and aversion to work,
to care, to trouble in fact of any kind, which at length, by night or
day, allows him to think of nothing but of his master-passion and all
its concomitant cravings, to the gratification of which everything must
be sacrificed, and everybody must become subservient. A gin drinker,
for the indulgence in his ignoble passion, demands no other service
than that now and then someone is sent out to fetch him his dram; but
the opium smoker, if he can afford the luxury of attendance at all,
monopolises the services of his entire household. One must work hard
to earn the means of satisfying his expensive craving, another must go
and purchase his opium, a third must stand by in readiness to fill his
pipe, a fourth must prepare his coffee and the other refreshments he
requires. It is true, no doubt, that he is not so violent and not so
noisy in his debauch as one who is under the influence of liquor; but,
when the effects of the narcotic begin to wear off and his pains and
ailments again begin to make themselves felt, then, unless the whole
family is at his beck and call and ready once more to minister to his
passion, he fills the house with invectives and threatening--then he
utters moanings and lamentations most pitiful and heartrending. If
to this we add the bodily and mental debility which the opium slave
transmits as a legacy to his wretched offspring, though the majority
of smokers cease at an early age to have children at all, then we
cannot help wondering what kind of miserable stunted race will be
the second or third generation from the present one.
"And then," continued Verstork, after a pause, "and then the poverty
and destitution which the use of opium entails! What an amount of
prosperity and welfare has already been,--and is daily being--swallowed
up by the use of that baneful drug! Among the lower classes, an opium
smoker, even though he smokes in strict moderation, very soon arrives
at the point when he must devote his entire earnings to the purchase
of the drug, while at the same time his craving for refreshing
and stimulating dainties must likewise be satisfied. The families
are legion in which the wife, assisted perhaps by one or two of her
children, is the only breadwinner. Should she happen to be in delicate
health, should she be disabled by sickness or childbed, why then the
misery of such a household is unfathomable. And, believe me, such
cases of extreme misery are much more frequent out here than similar
cases of destitution in Europe occasioned by the abuse of drink.
"Now all these powers, bodily, mental, and moral; and all that
prosperity, which at present opium saps and destroys, might be devoted
to industry and agriculture. If such use were made of them, how much
greater would be both production and consumption, and how much more
considerable would be the profit to the exchequer--a profit earned in a
fair and legitimate way--than any revenue which the accursed system of
opium farming can produce! Thousands upon thousands of the natives here
have neither the energy, nor the means, nor the inclination to work or
to learn how they may profitably cultivate their gardens and fields,
neither do they care to progress in any branch of industry whatever;
because they have offered up--and are continually offering--all they
possess in the world to opium. But, are not industry and agriculture
the very life-blood of a State? Yet here, the state itself does all
it possibly can to poison that life-blood, and thus to bring about
its own destruction."
William Verstork here paused for awhile, after so long an oration, he
felt the necessity of quenching his thirst with a glass of beer. All
his guests sat silently waiting for what he might further have to
say. His words had evidently made a very deep impression upon his
hearers, for the language to which they had listened was the simple and
unvarnished tale of actual experience; and, however young and heedless
some of them might be, yet the speech of their friend had awakened
their interest, and had gone straight to their hearts. At length,
after having drawn a long breath, the Controller went on to say:
"You know, my friends, that my official career has not been passed
entirely at Santjoemeh. My probationary time I spent in the capital
of the Kediri residence. As second-class controller I was some time at
Berbek and at Trenggalek. I know, therefore, from personal experience
how matters stand in those residencies also. Now listen to me. Kediri
has a population of about 700,000 souls--the vast majority of them
very poor people. In that place the opium contract produces eighteen
hundred thousand guilders. If to that sum we add the price paid for
the drug delivered to the farmer, and the profits which he makes on
the sale then, I think, we shall be well within the mark if we put
down two and a half millions of guilders as the sum which those poor
people, of their own free will, pay annually to purchase a few hours
a day of enjoyment and oblivion. I say nothing now about the cost of
smuggled opium; the amount paid for it is not known, and every one
must, therefore, form his own opinion of that. How is it possible for a
population so poor to find so large a sum of money, in addition, mind
you, to all their other burdens, such as compulsory labour, salt-tax,
rent, licenses, import duties, &c.? That is a mystery to me--but then
you should see what kind of a life is that of a poor Javanese family.
"Their house is generally very small, built of bamboo and covered
with straw. Furniture they have none whatever; a mat spread out on
a bamboo bench, and a coarse pillow is what they sleep on. They cook
their food on the ground in pots and pans of the commonest earthenware;
they eat it on pisang leaves with their fingers; they drink water out
of an earthenware pitcher. They seldom, we may say never, wash their
clothes which, such as they are, they continue to wear until they fall
in rags from their bodies. The children run about naked, and grow up in
the mud among the bullocks. At five o'clock in the morning they rise
and go to work so as to be present in time for roll-call at six. They
work for their masters, in the rice-fields, at road-making, in the
coffee plantations, or in the osier-beds. Should a man get a day off,
he may go and work on his own account, and then he can earn about 40
or 50 cents (10 pence) for ten hours' labour. When they get home in
the evening, they have their morsel of food and fully half the day's
earning is spent on opium. At eight o'clock all are fast asleep, and up
to eight o'clock the only lamp they have in the hut is a saucer with a
cotton wick in a little stinking oil. Such is the faithful picture of
the daily life of a Javanese opium smoker. Nothing--absolutely nothing
to make the slightest break in this weary monotony. Nothing but work,
hard work; mostly for insufficient wages, very frequently compulsory
labour for no wages at all. And then, behind their backs to be called
a pack of lazy scoundrels! That is a little too bad. Tell me, have
we Dutch any feeling at all for our fellow-creatures? Is it not at
length high time that all that compulsory and unpaid labour should be
done away with and that the opium-curse should be banished from the
land? Every right-minded Dutchman ought to do his best according to
the utmost of his power to attain that end, because every Dutchman is
personally and individually responsible for so frightful a state of
things, and every Dutchman ought to be heartily ashamed of himself
while the poor patient Javanese are being so shamefully imposed
upon. All that the poor native can earn either by his work for his
masters or in his own free time, he must, in one shape or other,
offer up to that insatiable Moloch, the public treasury. There is
but one thing left for him, and that is a little rice; and of that
he has not enough to last him for the whole year."
"Yes," observed Grenits, when Verstork had finished speaking, "yes,
William, you are perfectly right, and that is the reason why he
seeks for consolation and temporary oblivion in the opium den, just
as in Holland a poor man in similar circumstances flies for relief
to the bottle. Thus cause and effect act and react upon one another;
misery suggests opium or drink, and drink and opium in their turn
engender misery. It requires a very powerful effort of the will to
shake off either bad habit, and drink and opium are the very things
which deprive a man of whatever power of will he may have. Therefore
it is perfectly hopeless to expect the people to take the initiative in
any such reforms as Verstork has mentioned; the evil keeps on spreading
and is daily striking deeper roots. The ruling power ought to exercise
its authority and drag these poor degraded people out of the slough of
despond in which so many of them are wallowing. It ought to do this,
I say, regardless of cost and trouble; and regardless also of the
pain it may for the moment inflict. Every right-minded citizen ought,
according as he is able, to assist the government in that arduous
task, and whoever would, for selfish motives, strive to retard or
to frustrate this plan of rescue ought at once to be put aside and
rendered harmless. If Holland and Dutch India cannot continue to exist,
or to speak more correctly, cannot continue to pay their way without
screwing a revenue out of such immoral sources as abuse of opium,
abuse of drink and unpaid compulsory labour--why then for honour of
the country it were better that it should do like the man who is no
longer able to maintain, by honest means, a separate home of his own,
and go and live as a boarder in the house of another."
For a few moments all sat silent. They all felt the truth, the
undeniable truth of Theodoor's words, though his concluding sentence
had most deeply wounded their patriotic pride. At length van Beneden
started up from his seat, and going up to Verstork he took his hand
and pressed it cordially.
"I thank you," said he in a tone of deep emotion, "I thank you
heartily for the insight you have given me into the fatal effects of
opium. I am but a young lawyer and have, as yet, had no opportunity
of appearing as counsel in any case connected with the traffic. I
have read much about the abuse of the drug, and I learned much last
night under the Wariengien tree on the green at Kaligaweh; but your
manly and vigorous words have awakened my conscience, and here, in
the presence of you all, I solemnly promise that I will, on the very
first opportunity that may present itself, make the very best use I
can of what your experience has taught me."
"Hurrah!" cried Leendert Grashuis. "William, your excellent speech
has thus had not only a practical, but it will have an immediate
effect. Aye, my friends, I say an immediate effect; for I have a
proposition to make to you--"
"Out with it!" they cried, "let us hear it."
"Yesterday, we all but witnessed the Amokh which took place at
Kaligaweh; this morning we were within a few minutes of witnessing
another and no less terrible crime. It is not my intention to analyse
the feelings to which these scenes have given rise in our hearts--the
father a manslayer, and the daughter dishonoured. Both these events,
however, are intimately and immediately connected with the infamous
system of opium-farming. We have heard the testimony of our superior
officer. In the name of all assembled here, I thank him for his
noble sentiments; and now my friends let us not be behind him in
generosity. Dalima and her father must have an advocate in the trial
which awaits them, and that advocate we have found. Both the accused
parties will, in our friend August van Beneden, find a defender who
will take up their cause with zeal and ability. Methinks, I can hear
his maiden speech--it will be a splendid one."
"Thank you, Leendert," said van Beneden with much emotion, "I can
assure my friends that they have not misjudged me."
"Aye, aye," continued Grashuis, "I know that well; but we all of us
intend to participate in the good work, do we not?"
"By all means!" was the general cry.
"Well then, listen to me, for now I come to the proposal I have to
make. In this case there can be no question of offering our friend
van Beneden any honorarium--that would deprive his labour of love
of its chief merit. But in carrying on this defence many expenses
will necessarily be incurred and many fees will have to be paid in
advance. We all know that Dame Justice is in India an expensive--a
most expensive hussy. Well then, let us all join hands and undertake
to find the funds that may be required--then August will be able to
carry on both cases in the most effectual and vigorous manner."
"Agreed, agreed!" they all exclaimed. "Now, August, do your best!"
"Now that we have arranged that business," resumed Grenits, "I have
a question to put to our host."
"By all means, Theodoor," said Verstork, "what is it?"
"I am a merchant," said Grenits, "and as such, I am bound to be
very inquisitive. In trade I not only need all the information I can
obtain about any article of commerce; but I find a little chemistry
uncommonly useful--"
"Come to the point," cried several of the guests; "we don't want any
lectures on chemistry and commerce!"
But Grenits, without paying any heed to the interruption, went on:
"Just now in your speech you made mention of a certain remedy which
I think you said you found useful in curing some unhappy slaves to
opium. Is that, may I ask, a secret remedy?"
"A secret remedy?" asked Verstork, with a laugh. "What do you mean--do
you take me for a quack-doctor?"
"Not by any means," replied Grenits. "Since this remedy then is not
a secret one, will you tell me what it is?"
"With pleasure," said Verstork; "they are pills which were given me by
a missionary. They are composed of opium and radix rhei or rhubarb, in
the following proportions: Twelve of these pills contain three grains
of opium and twelve grains of rhubarb. They are to be administered
every five days; the first time twelve have to be taken, the next time
nine, the third time six, but it is very seldom indeed that the third
dose is required, for by that time the patients are generally cured."
"And," persisted Grenits, "can you actually vouch for their efficacy?"
"To be sure I can," replied Verstork. "In my study you will find a
kind of trophy consisting of a dozen bedoedans or opium-pipes which
the smokers have deposited with me with the solemn promise that they
would never touch the pipe again. The missionary who gave me the
pills can speak most positively of upwards of seventy cures."
"Now," asked Grenits, "you will not be offended if I give you a
bit of advice in your own interest and in the interest also of the
missionary?"
"Certainly not," said Verstork, "let us hear it, by all means."
"Well, my advice is this: keep that prescription strictly to yourself
and don't say a word about it to anybody. The colonial secretary who
has but one object in view, and that is, to raise the opium revenue
as much as possible, might look upon your remedy as an attack made
upon the golden calf; and missionaries have before this been impeded
in their Gospel work, and men have been expelled from the colonies,
and official functionaries have been suspended or pensioned off for
the commission of much more venial offences than bringing such pills
as yours to the opium-smoker."
Verstork turned slightly pale as he heard his friend's well-meant
advice. For a single moment his thoughts flew to those dear ones who
so greatly needed his assistance and support. Did he repent of having
thus honestly spoken his mind? Who can say!--He put his hand to his
forehead as if to wipe away some unpleasant reflection. "Oh," said he,
"it is not quite so bad as that, I hope."
"Perhaps not," said Grenits, with a smile, "but your pills will not
earn you the Netherlands' Lion."
"That may be," said the Controller, "however, Fais ce que dois,
advienne que pourra, that is my motto. For all that I shall not give
the poor souls one pill the less."
Then, allowing his eye to wander over the table which by this time
had been pretty well cleared, for our friends had sat down to dinner
as hungry as hunters, he continued--
"My friends, our dinner is over. After yesterday's jaunt and this
morning's exertion, and after the very short rest we had last night,
you must all need repose. My servants will show you to your rooms. I
am going to work and, as I told you just now, this evening I am off
with you to Santjoemeh. I wish you all a pleasant siesta."
A few minutes later the pandoppo was deserted and towards evening
the five friends were galloping along the road to the capital.