Page:Max Havelaar; or, the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company (IA dli.granth.77827).pdf/381

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362
Max Havelaar

“All this made me incline to moderation, with regard to what had already happened, but not at all to indulgence for the future.

“I insisted upon the immediate cessation of every unlawful act.

“I made you acquainted with that previous experiment to induce the Regent by moderation to do his duty. Yet it is evident to me that he casts all to the winds with rude insolence; and I feel bound to communicate to you in virtue of my official oath;

“That I accuse the Regent of Lebak, Radeen Adhipatti, Karta Natta Negara, of abuse of power, by disposing unlawfully of the labour of his subordinates; and suspect him of extortion while exacting productions in naturâ, without payment, or for prices arbitrarily fixed.

“That I suspect, moreover, the Demang of Parang-Koodjang (the Regent’s son-in-law) of complicity in the above-mentioned abuses.

“In order conclusively to prove both these charges I take the liberty of proposing to you to order me—

  1. “To send the Regent of Lebak with the utmost speed to Serang, and to take care that he shall not have occasion, either before his departure or during the journey, to influence by corruption, or in any other way, the witnesses. I require,
  2. “Previously to take the Demang of Parang-Koodjang into custody.
  3. “To apply the same measure to such persons of