Huibert Gerard Nahuys and the female line in inheritance in Minangkabau

Huibert Gerard Nahuys, (1782-1858) was a Dutch baron, educated as a lawyer but mostly active as a colonial officer and administrator. At the age of  21 he already had defended his doctoral dissertation on the economic rights of criminals (written in Latin, the English or international European language of the academic life between 1500-1860s!). But he wanted to go to Indonesia and made the trip five times. In 1805 he had problems with the British in South Africa, but he could nevertheless arrive in Batavia, did not much there and returned through America in 1807. Between 1809-1813 he made his second trip, was taken prisoner by the British, but given a position in Benkulu by Lord Minto. His third trip began in December 1814 and he became Resident of Yogyakarta, after positions in the army. His return then was in 1823. Between 1827-1830 he was Resident in Surakarta and was a major figure in the Java war. His most important writing was about the Java War, four volumes totalling 1916 pages. About 20% was written by Nahuys himself, the rest are reports, mostly of army leaders,

Verzameling van officiële rapporten betreffende den oorlog op Java in de jaren 1825-1830.

His fifth and last trip was between 1836 and 1839 when he was member (Edeleer) of the Council of the Indies.

Above the four volumes on the Java War. Below this diplomat-administrator, warrior in a very civilised outfit.

Nahuys liked writing. He wrote Herrinneringen, a biographical account, published privately in 1852 and a public reprint about the time of his death. He took time for his return trip in 1826-7 and wrote about this trip a book with the long title Brieven over Bencoolen, Padang, het Rijk van Menang-Kabau, Rhiouw, Singapoera en Poelo-Pinang. These are 'Letters from..' On Riau he has mostly economic information (page 232). The Dutch administration had some income here from four sources: opium (64.140 guilders), Arak (27.120), gambling 35.400, slaughtering of pigs (6.780). Apparently they got money from Chinese traders who rented the position of administration in these fields, with opium, gambling and drinking as the major income!

On page 106 he has some comments on the adat of inheritance in Minangkau: 'not according a holy prescript, such as the laws and teachings of Muhammad and the Qur'an, but through a ridicule and fabulous tradition which hurts all commons sense. At the moment of the finishing of a boat and its launching in the ocean, the 'emperor' ordered a grandchild from one of his son to lay under the boat. The son rejected the idea, but a daughter consented. Since then inheritance is in Minangkabau through the line of daughters (at least according to the anonymous source of Nahuys).

In his account of the Java War the 'priests' in their white robes and turbans are mentioned from time to  time as part  of the army of the rebels. Hajis are mentioned, the Friday prayers, some information about booty to be divided according the sacred law. The information about the Paderi of Minangkabau is very poor.

I am now involved in the last details for CMR volumes 16 and 17, the Bibliographical History of Christian-Muslim Relations. 19th century for Europe (Netherland: vol 16) and Indonesia (vol 17). Nahuys is not important here.