Mss Eur Mack Private 24

p. 1: Reports of a Commission instituted to enquire into the Tenures & Means of Improving the Landed Interests of Java in 1812 & 1813.

p. 3: Table of Contents. [The following pages, pp. 7-28, were intended to contain the report (dated 11 August 1812) of Colonel Mackenzie, President of the Commission.]

1, pp. 29-113: Samarang [=Sĕmarang], 29 June 1812. Summary of a report, on the State of Java, by Mess(rs) [J.] Knops & [P. H. van Lawick] van Pabst. Copy. The Dutch original, of which this is a summary, is 56, infra. See also 2 infra for a still briefer abstract. The memoir deals chiefly with the following matters :-pp. 29-36: Short description of the different districts of Java, with special reference to their agricultural productions; pp. 36-41: Coffee, pepper, saltpetre, indigo, sugar, forests, salt works, edible birds' nests, pearls; pp. 42-8: Native ideas as to land tenure in different parts of the island, the causes of the Cheribon disturbances, native land measures (chachah, jung, &c.), history of certain districts; pp. 48-57: Land tenure in the Batavian regencies, compulsory delivery of coffee , at fixed prices, compulsory labour, land tenure in Cheribon and Eastern Java, various taxes and services; pp. 57-67: The Regents, character of the Javanese, their agriculture, handicrafts and industries, trade, compulsory delivery of produce, imports and exports, revenue system of the Dutch Government in Java; pp. 67-84: Suggestions for reform of the system, rearrangements of territorial divisions and land tenure, Government monopolies, taxation, rice cultivation, compulsory labour, postal service, Djyang Secars [=jayeng sĕkar], sugar mills, Crimon Java [=Karimon Jawa], sea slugs, forests, salt works, saltpetre, pearls, edible birds' nests, coffee, pepper; pp. 84-101: Proposals with regard to coffee lands, schedule of coffee invoiced in 1810, proposals as to sale of lands, considerations on rice cultivation, exclusion of Chinese from purchasing land at the proposed sales, conditions of sale; pp. 101-8: Provisions for the native chiefs and officials, special cases commended to the benevolence of Government; pp. 108-13: Free tade .and navigation recommended, considerations as to the fiscal effects of the proposed changes, as instanced by the case of Tagal [=Tĕgal].

2, pp. 117-68: Samarang [=Sĕmarang], 29 June 1812. Abstract or brief account of the Report of the Members of a Committee of Enquiry concerning Java, J. Knops and [P. H. van] Lawick van Pabst. Original, signed by the authors. An abstract of 56 infra, briefer than 1 supra but sub divided like 56 infra into 222 numbered paragraphs.

3, pp. 169-222: Sourabaya [=Surabaya], 6 August 1812. Mr Rothenbuhler’s Report. (p. 165): Report of Mr [F. J.] Rothenbuhler a Member of the Commission at Sourabaya [=Surabaya] Translated from the Dutch. Copy. A report on the lines of 1 supra. The principal matters dealt with are as follows :-pp. 171-81: Defects of the existing administrative system of Java, inefficiency and greed of the native officials, heavy taxation, other burdens on the natives, compulsory labour and delivery of the produce, evil effects of the system; pp. 181-7: Suggested reforms, gradual dismissal of the Regents and chiefs (the writer cites and approves what was done at the sale of the Probolinggo district), introduction of individual property in land and freedom of cultivation and trade (the writer considers and rejects other alternative schemes for dealing with the land question, he also excepts opium from his general scheme of free trade and cultivation); pp. 187-97: Practical difficulties in the application of these principles, inherent laziness of the Javanese, in land sales preference to be given to Europeans, Chinese to be excluded as a rule (the writer considers their influence on the natives entirely evil, in spite of their successful management of Ulujami and Bĕsuki), disposal of coffee plantations, teak forests, salt works, edible birds' nests, pearl fisheries, sugar cane fields, markets; pp. 197-207: Methods and conditions of sale, both public auction and private treaty to be applied, according to circumstances (illustrated by the case of different classes of land near Surabaya), payment of the purchase money by instalments, varying values of land used in rice cultivation, disposal of unsold lands, proposed taxes; pp. 205-15: Extent and nature of the proprietary rights in lands sold as suggested, modification of the system of compulsory labour and delivery of produce, restrictions on the powers of the new owners, public duties to be imposed upon them (e.g., upkeep of roads, bridges, rivers and canals), consideration of special services (e.g., hospitals, boats, jayeng sĕkar force; &c.), provisions for the protection of the native cultivators against the new landlords; pp. 215-22: Districts requiring exceptional treatment (e.g., Banyuwangi, Pugĕr, and Ulujami), considerations as to Madura and the neighbouring islands (Bawean, &c.), history and character of their Regents, possible new sources of revenue under the new system. 4, pp. 225-6: XXIV Cappas [=kapas] or Cotton. A copy of pp. 79-80 of 44.1 Import and Export Duty. Batavia, 1799. infra, q. v.