and land controlled by the autonomous governments (zelfbestuur landstreken)
(Anoniem 1916, p. 933).
Thus since 1898, in the autonomous government region, the central colonial
government or regional government issued concessions relating to panglong
businesses.
The Government granted businesspersons concessions for an area of no more
than 500 ha, for the duration of 1–5 years (Tjoeng 1947, p. 118).
Most panglong businesspersons or companies stayed in Singapore and recruited
the wage laborers from there. In the nineteenth century, there were many timber and
sawing businesses in the Bengkalis Regency (Afdeeling Bengkalis), but since 1913
all sawing businesses moved to Singapore. In 1898 there were 131 panglong
businesses; 128 owners of these stayed in Singapore. Among 131 business owners,
52 were in the sawing business, 34 in logging, 30 were in firewood collection/
supply, and 15 were in the charcoal business. In these businesses, 1792 Chinese and
some Malays worked in the Bengkalis Regency. In 1930, 1724 Chinese and 1251
Malays worked in Riau (Tjoeng 1947, 113–114).
The panglong businesses developed continuously. According to Jelles, total
timber supplied by the panglong businesses amounted to 400,000 m
3 in 1925, and
more than 450,000 m
3 in 1927–28. Firewood supply amounted to 100,000 tons,
while charcoal supply amounted to 600,000 picol (1 picol was 60 kg). These
amounts of timber supplied by the panglong system were more than the amount of
teak timber supplied by the Forest Management System in Java (Jelles 1929,
pp. 482–483). The colonial government had paid most attention to teak forest
management and its supply since the nineteenth century (Peluso 1992). During the
Great Depression, beginning in 1929, the supply of timber generated by the
panglong system dropped to 150,000 m
3 in 1933, but the supply recovered quickly
to 190,000 m
3 , and the price increased (Sewandono 1937, pp. 660–662).
Many of these panglong businesses were conducted in peat swamp forests,
spread out over an area of 2.5 million ha, of which 2 million ha were exploited.
Among these were the mangrove forests in the coastal area of Bengkalis and
the islands around them (300,000 ha); the salty water wetland forest
(Zoutwatermoerasbosschen) was 1.5 million ha. On the other hand, dry land forest
(drooglandbosch) was found inland on the islands of Lingga and Singkep. Usually,
the panglong timber was soft wood, but the wood supplied by the dry land forest was
hard wood (Jelles 1929, pp. 483–486). Hence we can see that at least 1.5 million ha
was peat swamp forest (veenmoerasbosch).
The colonial government had paid little attention to these panglong businesses
save for the tax levied on them in the early days in the 1880s and 1890s. However, in
1898 the Straits Settlement government filed a protest with the government of
Nederlandsch-Indië against the maltreatment of labor, such as coercion, summary
dismissal, unpaid wages, beatings, and poor meals and accommodations. The
colonial government opened an investigation, resulting in the gradual improvement
of working and living conditions, including the establishment of the panglong
hospital and a labor inspection system for the businesses (Pastor 1927, pp. 1–5;
Tjoeng 1947, pp. 116–118).
630
K. Mizuno et al.
(Anoniem 1916, p. 933).
Thus since 1898, in the autonomous government region, the central colonial
government or regional government issued concessions relating to panglong
businesses.
The Government granted businesspersons concessions for an area of no more
than 500 ha, for the duration of 1–5 years (Tjoeng 1947, p. 118).
Most panglong businesspersons or companies stayed in Singapore and recruited
the wage laborers from there. In the nineteenth century, there were many timber and
sawing businesses in the Bengkalis Regency (Afdeeling Bengkalis), but since 1913
all sawing businesses moved to Singapore. In 1898 there were 131 panglong
businesses; 128 owners of these stayed in Singapore. Among 131 business owners,
52 were in the sawing business, 34 in logging, 30 were in firewood collection/
supply, and 15 were in the charcoal business. In these businesses, 1792 Chinese and
some Malays worked in the Bengkalis Regency. In 1930, 1724 Chinese and 1251
Malays worked in Riau (Tjoeng 1947, 113–114).
The panglong businesses developed continuously. According to Jelles, total
timber supplied by the panglong businesses amounted to 400,000 m
3 in 1925, and
more than 450,000 m
3 in 1927–28. Firewood supply amounted to 100,000 tons,
while charcoal supply amounted to 600,000 picol (1 picol was 60 kg). These
amounts of timber supplied by the panglong system were more than the amount of
teak timber supplied by the Forest Management System in Java (Jelles 1929,
pp. 482–483). The colonial government had paid most attention to teak forest
management and its supply since the nineteenth century (Peluso 1992). During the
Great Depression, beginning in 1929, the supply of timber generated by the
panglong system dropped to 150,000 m
3 in 1933, but the supply recovered quickly
to 190,000 m
3 , and the price increased (Sewandono 1937, pp. 660–662).
Many of these panglong businesses were conducted in peat swamp forests,
spread out over an area of 2.5 million ha, of which 2 million ha were exploited.
Among these were the mangrove forests in the coastal area of Bengkalis and
the islands around them (300,000 ha); the salty water wetland forest
(Zoutwatermoerasbosschen) was 1.5 million ha. On the other hand, dry land forest
(drooglandbosch) was found inland on the islands of Lingga and Singkep. Usually,
the panglong timber was soft wood, but the wood supplied by the dry land forest was
hard wood (Jelles 1929, pp. 483–486). Hence we can see that at least 1.5 million ha
was peat swamp forest (veenmoerasbosch).
The colonial government had paid little attention to these panglong businesses
save for the tax levied on them in the early days in the 1880s and 1890s. However, in
1898 the Straits Settlement government filed a protest with the government of
Nederlandsch-Indië against the maltreatment of labor, such as coercion, summary
dismissal, unpaid wages, beatings, and poor meals and accommodations. The
colonial government opened an investigation, resulting in the gradual improvement
of working and living conditions, including the establishment of the panglong
hospital and a labor inspection system for the businesses (Pastor 1927, pp. 1–5;
Tjoeng 1947, pp. 116–118).
630
K. Mizuno et al.