****Enchanting Javanese, for the colorful soul and high learning spirit, like Thomas Stamford Raffles, are fields of life and fields of science. Indeed he has been tethered to what is presented in the rich cultural cross. No doubt, he was sad when his time as lieutenant governor in Java ended and must leave the island full of "surprises" that. That wretched moment occurred in March 1816-four and a half years from its arrival in September 1811.****
About history, language, socio-political, art, and religion traced, various plants (botany) and animal (zoology) he also tracks, even the collection. In order to facilitate his studies, Raffles to form research assistant staff assigned to report on survey results and anything found during researching Java.
One of his flagship assistants is Dr. Horsfield, an American naturalist, artist, and artist who has been 11 years longer in Java than Raffles. With him, he found the Penataran temple in 1815 in the north of Blitar, East Java. In fact, Raffles directed Javanese sultans to write down the history of their country. He also kept all kinds of animals and various plants that examined. Some of his research objects he relegated to the Oriental Museum of the East India Company House in England to be stored.
One of the great dedication to Javanese cultural heritage is the discovery of a gigantic temple, Borobudur, built by the Syailendra Dynasty, King Samaratungga, in about 824 AD Since the decline of Mahayana Buddhism in Java, the existence of this temple has shrunk, drowned, , and shrouded in dust eruption of Mount Merapi.
In 1814 Raffles ordered as soon as he got the word of the gigantic temple that was immersed to be cleansed. Raffles also ordered H. C. Cornelius to investigate and clean up the historic area. As a result, re-rise Borobudur from long term it.
In his research in the interior of Java, Raffles and his two assistants, James Crawfurd and Colin Mackenzie, also managed to record what they witnessed, such as: geography, population density, trade systems, agriculture, socio-culture, etc. All the research he runs with personal funding. All that, done for the fascination of the Javanese civilization that belies his heart. One of the heritage buildings of Raffles and also one of the applications of his love of Javanese culture and literature is the construction of the Ethnographic Museum of Batavia, which still stands firmly.
Not many people know the scientist's side of a Raffles. The people know that Raffles is the Javanese conqueror of French power and also the conqueror of the palaces in Java (Banten, Cirebon and Yogyakarta). And the people know that he is a reform figure in the land system and the distribution of 16 districts in Java. Could this be the impact of his character who does not like to show off and show off? This is in line with the story of a Malay called Abdullah, the scribe at Raffles's office in Malacca, who wrote in his Memoir: "If my experience is not wrong, nothing matches Raffles' ability and greatness in this world."
Raffles, the lieutenant governor cum Orientalis.
"Raffles grieved, when his early traces in Java were marked by Dr. John Leyden, a great orientalist, reliable doctor, best friend,
and Raffles study adviser in the East "
Raffles orientalism adventures are widely obtained from Dr. Leyden. The reason, during the Eastern expedition became an Assistant Secretary at the Company of East India-originated in Penang, Malaysia-Raffles many discussions and familiar with Leyden. He is a warm and intelligent figure. Raffles rate Leyden is a phenomenal figure with a remarkable memory, and flow of speech flowing and full of insight. Lord Minto-Governor-General of East India's trading company-assesses Leyden-Raffles intellectual merit as harmonious and complementary.
In Penang, they became acquainted and familiar, until on the first day of Raffles and the expeditionary forces of Javanese conquest to Batavia, death separated this intellectual collaboration. Leyden died in the wandering of science. Although malaria was gripping him, he was still busy dismantling the archives of the Dutch secretariat in the basement of Batavia.
He was not tired even though a six-week trip on a Modeste warship from Malacca to Batavia had just taken him. His body heat culminated in death. Leyden's death really hit Raffles. He had lost his study guide he so much depended on. Raffles then wrote to William Marsden-the British orientalist, author of the History of Sumatra (published seven years earlier than History of Java), and long lived in Bengkulu-in one sentence he wrote: "we have lost an expert in the field eastern literature ".
Raffles' sadness does not necessarily stop him from being passionate about science, especially about history, culture, language, zoology and botany in Java and Sumatra. Even when he was appointed Lieutenant Governor in the area previously occupied by the Dutch, the Dutch East Indies, Raffles still rejoiced in his love of his studies. Even until his physical condition weakened due to illness, sadness, to exhaustion of work, he still showed his optimistic, persistent, and self-assured figure in carrying out intellectual work. He did not let his free time for things that had nothing to do with science. What an energetic and qualified person.
Not surprisingly, G. M. Trevelyan, in the book of British History in Nineteenth Century (1922), writes Raffles as "One of the greatest men and best employees of the British Empire ever owned. Perhaps he was the first European to bring modern humanitarian and scientific methods to develop so many indigenous races in Asia. "
In many strokes of history, when Raffles served as Lieutenant Governor in Java, he was written as a reformist figure for the conservative colonial system instilled by the previous government. It comes with liberal ideas and policies that stand for humanity.
Of all its policies in Java, the most important is the question of land, because it is directly related to the livelihood of the people of Java. In his time, Raffles reformed the land rules. He imposed a land tax system (landrente). In the book The History of Plantations in Indonesia: Socio-Economic Review with Sartono Kartodirdjo and Djoko Suryo, the idea arose from his efforts to improve the forced system of Kumpeni (VOC), which is considered to be burdensome and harmful to the population. Therefore, Raffles wants a change of the forced delivery system with a system of land tax relinquishment, which is deemed to benefit both the state and the people.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Napoleonic wars in Europe, the feud with the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta, and a bunch of administrative and bureaucratic problems in Java, Raffles was right for Buitenzorg (Bogor), precisely in Cisarua about 40 miles from Batavia, stay. There he lives with his wife Olive Marianne Devenish, who is intelligent, warm, and deeply beloved (his grave can be found at the Bogor Botanical Garden).
He chose this beautiful and cool area as his workplace and avoided the dangers that mosquitoes were spreading from the swamps of Batavia that invited Malaria and claimed lives. It was there that History of Java began to be carefully examined based on the materials obtained from Raffles' personal research and observation staff in Java.
However, when his term as Lieutenant Governor in Java ended, the research project was automatically stopped. He returned to London to bring his collection of manuscripts, carvings, textiles, plants, animal substances, insects, fruits, and ancient art that weighed 30 tons and wrapped in 200 chests.
As soon as he arrived in London, he continued his History of Java writing project. The book was also successfully summarized, then published in two volumes in 1817. Thanks to the contribution of information and science to the precious East, as embodied in the History of Java, Sir's title was bearing. Raffles's newly acquired nobility is told in a biography written by Thomas Jefferson, Life, Love, and Tragedy. Raffles the Fighters.
In some of the biographical phrases, Travers, travel scribe and good friend Raffles, wrote:
"Mr. Raffles was accompanied to the shore by all the inhabitants of Batavia who wept for him. The head of the Chinese population and the natives will not leave him until they see him sailing. "