Suicide Servants Like Ordinary Incidents In Batavia

An overview of the slave market atmosphere in the Rijswijk area, Batavia in 1848 in Wolter's book "Slawen en Vrijen Onder de Nederlandsche Wet" by Wolter Robert von Hoevell in 1854. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The Dutch colonial dependence on slaves was too high. The slaves are considered to have high values. Sometimes when slaves are needed to help the household. Sometimes slaves are also used to help the work of their owners on plantations.

Slavery has also become a new social status. The more slaves, the richer a person will be. This condition is inversely proportional to the fate of slaves. They are often tortured like animals. Therefore, the incident of slave suicide is considered common in Batavia.

The wish of the Dutch trading airline VOC to monopolize the spice trade in the archipelago is unanimous. Batavia (now: Jakarta) is used as the center of power of the VOC. However, the business of building a power center (colonal country) is not easy.

The physical quality of the Dutch in the tropics is unreliable. The power of power actually needed additional energy. The strategy of bringing in many slaves is a lesson. The result was brilliant. The demand for slaves increased.

The Company received additional income from selling slaves. Meanwhile, officials or rulers get affordable additional labor. The slaves functioned in all fields. Building matters, guarding livestock, households, kitchens, and mattresses.

The presence of slaves in the Dutch household was transformed like a new culture. Slavery is actually considered a symbol of the new social status in Batavia. Whoever has many slaves, then he will be seen as a respected and wealthy family.

The white gentlemen did not even hesitate to show off many of their slaves at a certain event. Many slaves were involved to take their masters to church or funeral. The slaves only had trivial tasks.

Some bring their umbrella. There are also those who bring their employer's betel box. The reluctance of the white master made the presence of slaves in the Dutch household not enough one. In fact, one white host can have hundreds of slaves who can play various roles.

The rich Europeans in Batavia of the 17th century could have had 100 slaves or more, and the main slave market in the city from the start was a crowded and lively place. These Malay, Indian, Burmese, and Balinese workers are trained to fill very small niches in the structure of household workers advertisements mention the need to light lights, horse carriage administrators, mail delivery attendants, tea makers, bakers, mattress tailors, and most specifically, sambal makers.

The female slaves who served my aunt-mayor were employed as massagers or barberspersons; the girls were smart at designing hair into a form known as the code name, which was very much liked in salons at that time. Because they are so many and cheap, slaves often don't have much work and just sit around while gambling to fill in time, "explained Simon aired in Krak or: When the World Exploded August 27, 1883(2006).

The slave population in Batavia is increasing every year. This condition made Batavia in the Company era nicknamed the slave city. The white men felt that the presence of slaves was quite helpful. However, it is different for slaves. They cannot choose who will become their employer.

Anyone who is able to pay, can become the master of slaves. This condition can be a disaster for slaves who have a master with evil and heinous character. The slaves can't be wrong little. Servants who cannot work according to direction will get cruel punishment.

Servants are often forced to work day and night non-stop. Cracks, kicks, and punches became commonplace. Even slaves are often tied up like being interrogated by torture. The sadistic torture models are diverse. There were those who shed hot water on the head of the slave. There were also those who twisted the slaves.

The torture made slaves no longer able to live in the world. The only option that can be done so that the torture of life ends is death. The slaves also chose to perpetuate suicide. All because of death can make slaves free.

However, the evil employer in Batavia is not just one or two people. An evil employer is everywhere in Batavia. Alias bejibun. This condition made the slave suicide rate high. Even the suicide of slaves was then considered a common thing in Batavia. The Company itself does not really care about slave affairs.

They tortured the poor slaves so cruelly that most felt desperate and committed suicide. Some hanged themselves, some used iron, some fell into the water where death did not appear to be too violent.

While I was in Batavia, there were two slaves who slit their own throat and one person drowned themselves. If the men were the cause of the slaves' suicide, then the female employers were even more cruel by having fun killing themselves the slaves and satisfying their eyes with such a terrible spectacle, "explained Jean Baptist Tavernier as written by Bernard Dorseans in the book Indonesians & French People: From the XVI Century to the XX Century (2006).