The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online

xiii.] TIMOR. 151protected jjeople of otlier tribes for slaves ; l)ut Europeans maypass anj'\\here through tlie country in safetj^ Except a fewhalf-breedsin the town, there are no native Christians in theisland of Timor. The jDeoiDle retain their independence in agreat measure, and both dislike and despise their would-berulers, whether Portuguese or Dutch.The Portuguese government in Timor is a most miserable one.Xoliodj^ seems to care the least about the improvement of thecountry, and at this time, after three hundred years ofoccupation, there has not been a mile of road made beyond thetowm, and there is not a solitary European resident anywhere inthe interior. All the Government officials oj^press and rob thenatives as much as they can, and yet there is no care taken torender the town defensible should the Timorese attempt toattack it. So ignorant are the military officers, that havingreceived a small mortar and some shells, no one could be foundwho knew how to use them ;and during an insurrection of thenatives (while I w^as at Belli) the officer who ex^jected to be sentagainst the insurgents was instantly taken ill ! and they wereallowed to get possession of an important pass within threemiles of the town, where they could defend themselves againstten times the force. Tlie result was that no provisions werebrought down from the hills ;a famine was imminent, and theGovernor had to send oft' to beg for supplies from the DutchGovernor of Amboj'na.In its present state Timor is more trouble than profit to itsDutch and Portuguese rulers, and it will continue to be sounless a different system is pursued. A few good roads intothe elevated districts of the interior ; a conciliatory policy andstrict justice tow^ards the natives, and the introduction of agood system of cultivation as in Java and Northern Celebes,might yet make Timor a productive and valuable island. .Ricegrowls well on the marshy flats which often fringe the coast,and maize tln-ives in all tlie lowlands, and is the common foodof the natives as it was when Dampier visited the island in1699. The small quantity of coffee now grown is of verj^superior quality, and it might be increased to any extent.Sheep thrive, and would always be valuable as fresh food forwhalers and to supply the adjacent islands witli mutton, if notfor their wool ;although it is probable that on the mountainsthis product might soon be obtained by judicious breeding.Horses thrive amazingly ;and enough wheat might be grown tosupply tlie whole Archipelago if there were sufficient inducementsto the natives to extend its cultivation, and good roadsby which it could be cheaply transported to the coast. Undersuch a system the natives would soon jDerceive that Europeangovernment was advantageous to them. They would begin tosave money, and property being rendered secure they wouldrapidly acquire new wants and new tastes, and become largeconsumers of Euroi)ean goods. This would be a fai- surer