ISLAND OF BALI

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1938, Page 7

ISLAND OF BALI

LAST HINDU STRONGHOLD IN EAST INDIES FREEDOM OF POLITICAL ACTION. CANNY DUTCH COLONISERS. The island of Bali, one of the Dutch East Indies, famed for the past decade as a high light on the tourist’s travel map, was the last part of the Far East to yield to European dominance, states Mr More T. Green in the "Christian Science Donitor.” Whereas the Dutch have ruled in Java and other islands of the great Malay Archipelago for more than 300 years, Bali did not come completely under their sway until 1906. In that year the southern part of the island, whose area is about that of the State of Connecticut and whose population, a million and a half, gave up its determined struggle to maintain independence and joined Holland’s Oriental empire.

Bali is the last Hindu stronghold of the Archipelago, in the face of the Moslem invesion which banished Hinduism from thickly-populated Java some hundreds of thousands of the more zealous worshippers of Shiwa determined not to yield their ancient faith and fled across the narrow strip of sea which divides Bali from Java. In the former’s high mountains they settled themselves impregnably and, having endured so much for their religion, became all the more fervent in its profession ’ and practice until it dominated every phase of their individual and national lives.

Hinduism has practically vanished elsewhere east of India but in Bali it is as strong as ever, maintained by a sturdy, self-reliant and independent people of exceptional force of character and surprising artistic capacity. Their independence was dear to them and they defended it with ardour and determination, on the southern side of the mountains successfully until within the present century. With due regard to this the Dutch overlords have waited thirty years to see whether the Balinese would become reconciled to European sway and accept it with reasonable grace. During this period they have been given a good deal of freedom of political action and theii' manner of fife has in no way been interfered with, even foreign missionaries being barred from Bali. The canny Dutch colonisers have not made the mistake of bearing down upon a proud and self-respecting people, a mistake of which other European colonisers have too frequently been guilty. The Balinese, whatever their inner feelings, have accepted the position and shown no signs 'of caviling. So now has come their reward. Holland, in a gesture as wise as it is graceful, has restored to the island “indirect” rule, that is to say, most of the controlling privileges of the several Rajahs, or regents, with European oversight very lenient and mainly advisory. The virtual return of Bali to the island rajahs, one ovei’ each of the nine provinces, came in a notable and picturesque ceremony on the Balinese New Year, June 29. The formalities took place on the side of one of the highest mountains in a more i emote section of the beautiful isle. They were attended by the rajahs and their retinues, all garbed in brilliant and flowery ceremonial apparel, , while across the mountainside thousands of peasants, all “lad in as gaudy festival attire as-they possessed or could borrow, squatted through the hours of the long and leisurely ceremony. The European officials and invited guests were dressed in full evening clothes, as is the custom at affairs of high state in. thetDutch islands. Thus Bali passed, in many essential respects, back to its original rulers oi to their descendants. The several rajahs now have the power of taxation, of policing, of the appointment of most local officials, as well as control of much of the administrative machinery. This is the reward to the proud and sensitive Balinese for their law-abiding and orderly acceptance of Dutch overlordship and it has created throughout the island such a surge of kindly feeling toward their European administrators and the Great Mother, as most of the Archipelago people call Holland’s Queen, that whatever vestiges of "nationalist” sentiment may have existed in Bali are now completely dissipated. And so the restoration to this island of “indirect rule” rule is a gesture not unworthy of consideration by other Western colonising Powers in respect of some of their possessions. When the nine rajahs of Bali returned to their province's after the ceremony on the mountain they were received with high and solemn acclaim, first by the chief priests and then by leaders of the people. There followed a three-days’ period of feasting, dancing, gamelan music and general rejoicing all over the island, such a brilliant pageant of the always-colourful Balinese life as has not been seen within living memory. Many tourists from all parts of the world were on hand to see it, closely associated as it was with the lively observances of the Balinese New Year, and altogether memorable were their experiences.