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TERNATE 70 TOPOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL DESCRIPTIONS
One of the major changes that should be mentioned is that the Danos were forbidden
to go to Halmahera for any reason without giving advance notice to the head of the
government. This was an excellent arrangement, and strictly enforced. It protected the
people from visitors who, by their bragging and intimidation, would carry off everything
they could lay their hands on, secure in the knowledge that they had their sovereigns’
support—for they took care to give them part of the spoils.
But at the same time the government replaced the levies in produce and labor with
taxation in money in the eastern districts where the natives were most inclined to defect. It
required an annual amount of f 4.- for a married Alfuru and of f 2.- for an unmarried one;
[p. 105] no other service was required.
I do not think that this change was an improvement, although I readily acknowledge
the good intention behind it and I fully realize the difficulties involved in restoring calm
and order to a confused state of affairs to the satisfaction of all parties. The government
did not feel called upon, using the contractual powers given it in treaties concluded with the
sultans, to take over the running of Halmahera itself, and considering the extent of its task
in the Indies archipelago this abstention is understandable; why, then, implement a
measure which can only be effective under western leadership?
One has only to listen to the headmen who say quite frankly what they think. One
complains that he is looking in vain for a way to convert the produce of his subordinates
into ready cash; another declares roundly that he cannot refrain from using the money
placed in his safekeeping for his own benefit; a third does not find it possible to collect taxes
from transients; a fourth offers his resignation because he has now become a slave of the
people. The people themselves find this continual half-yearly pressure for payment
annoying and difficult and would rather pay more in the form of produce if they might be
spared this continuous reminder of their obligations.
Even the rulers are not very happy with this tax conversion. It is true that they
agreed at the time to the proposals made to them and would even have been inclined to
promise more under the auspices of their shaky authority; yet they fully understand that
their power has received a sharp blow and despite their good intentions, they lack the
means to apply a milder government policy or to assist the Government in the manner it
might desire. It is easy enough to condemn the rulers and present the people as being
subjected to all kinds of extortions in their name (the masses believe this immediately),
[p. 106] but fairness demands that the rights of these rulers be respected and their
influence not be needlessly undermined. Indeed, the tact with which they sometimes acquit
themselves of their task in very difficult cases deserves more admiration than disapproval.
Since the nature of my study does not allow room for political observations, however, I will
refrain from going into details on this matter.
Besides the already mentioned districts of Sidangoli, Dodinga, and Kau, there are
seven more districts in North Halmahera, known as Jailolo, Sawu, Gamkonorah, Tolofuo,
Lolodah, Galela, and Tobelo. About these, the following can be reported:
Jailolo. The capital, named Soahsio, is the seat of the Ternatese government.
About a quarter of an hour’s walk from the beach, it consists of two Islamic kampongs,
Soahkonorah and Siawa, each under a Kimalaha. One also finds here an Utusan and an
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