but without contesting the right of him whom they leave.  The chiefs, when nominated, do not however assume the title of dupati until confirmed by the pangeran, or by the Company’s Resident.  On every river there is at least one superior proattin, termed a pambarab, who is chosen by the rest and has the right or duty of presiding at those suits and festivals in which two or more villages are concerned, with a larger allotment of the fines, and (like Homer’s distinguished heroes) of the provisions also.  If more tribes than one are settled on the same river each has usually its pambarab.  Not only the rivers or districts but indeed each dusun is independent of, though not unconnected with, its neighbours, acting in concert with them by specific consent.

INFLUENCE OF THE EUROPEANS.

The system of government among the people near the sea-coast, who, towards the southern extreme of the island, are the planters of pepper, is much influenced by the power of the Europeans, who are virtually the lords paramount, and exercise in fact many of the functions of sovereignty.  The advantages derived to the subject from their sway, both in a political and civil sense, are infinitely greater than persons at a distance are usually inclined to suppose.  Oppressions may be some times complained of at the hands of individuals, but, to the honour of the Company’s service let me add, they have been very rare and of inconsiderable magnitude.  Where a degree of discretionary power is intrusted to single persons abuses will, in the nature of things, arise in some instances; cases may occur in which the private passions of the Resident will interfere with his public duty; but the door has ever been open for redress, and examples have been made.  To destroy this influence and authority in order to prevent these consequences were to cut off a limb in order to remove a partial complaint.  By the Company’s power the districts over which it extends are preserved in uninterrupted peace.  Were it not for this power every dusun of every river would be at war with its neighbour.  The natives themselves allow it, and it was evinced, even in the short space of time during which the English were absent from the coast, in a former war with France.  Hostilities of district against district, so frequent among the independent nations to the northward, are, within the Company’s jurisdiction, things unheard of; and those dismal catastrophes which in all the Malayan islands are wont to attend on private feuds but very rarely happen.  “I tell you honestly,” said a dupati, much irritated against one of his neighbours, “that it is only you,” pointing to the Resident of Laye, “that prevents my plunging this weapon into his breast.”  The Resident is also considered as the protector of the people from the injustice and oppression of the chiefs.  This oppression, though not carried on in the way of open force, which the ill-defined nature of their authority would not support, is scarcely less grievous