ABSTRACT
A review of the records of the East India Company and those of the government would not reveal the truth, which was camouflaged by the official recognition of the "authority" of the native regents. This chapter discusses the regents of Priangan, concerning whom Dr. Haan has collected an abundance of information in his standard work Priangan. Initially, trade remained the prime object—the Company wanted products. In 1832, however, Van den Bosch revised this decision, in connection with his policy regarding the native heads, and it was not until the days of Van de Putte's ministry that the abolition was again brought into effect; and it was not made absolute until 1887. By this time the Java War was over and the culture system had already been introduced, both being reasons for the administration to wish to strengthen the position of the regents.
