The ‘Koloniaal Verslag’ of 1893 (extract)

Abstract

In order to throw more light on the question of whether the depredations of the Papuans of the Tugeri tribe, about which the British had lodged complaints (cf. previous Report, pp.2–3 and 24), really had been conducted by people from our [i.e. Dutch] Territory, and if so to take the necessary steps to prevent a repetition, the Government of the Netherlands Indies decided to temporarily station a posthouder² with some armed police, as representatives of our authority, in a suitable place on the south coast of the island near the 141st degree East Longitude — the latter being the joint boundary. The posthouder was to gain knowledge of language, land, and people and to attempt by peaceful means to accustom the people to some form of order. If they really appeared guilty of having been involved in raids he should dissuade them from continuing their incursions.

Netherlands, Koloniaal Verslag of 1893, Nederlandsch (Oost-) Indie, No.2, Chapter C, Par. 18, pp.29–30. In this translation an attempt has been made to preserve the official style of the report.