Love from the East
- An old photograph of ‘Indo’ girls (mixed European as well as Indonesian) in Batavia
The early days of the expatriate in South East Asia, back from the 16th as well as 17th centuries were fraught with danger as well as the unknown. Never knowing when a passing ship might call in as well as take them home as well as consumed using a fear they may never make the idea back, some of those intrepid pioneers might often seek solace from the charms of an obliging local lady. Those who felt they were doing God’s work had their faith to keep them going however the traders, sailors as well as those others using a predilection towards sins of the flesh were more tempted as well as their offspring are still to be found in pockets of Asia, known as Eurasians.
As the years turned into decades as well as decades into century’s, technological advances plus the opening of the Suez Canal, cut journey times as well as expats found the home country wasn’t so far away after all. The East’s riches had attracted more as well as more as well as over time the gruff, hoary old colonial, finely follicled as well as lord of his own manor started off to become an anachronism.
The expat scene, such as the idea was, morphed through the drunken debauchery of those pioneers into a mirror image of genteel, middle class Europe with all its attendant prejudices as well as attention to status. Men posted to the region, be they government officials or businessmen, started off to bring their wives who, infused using a mini religious revival that will was hitting the newly wealthy, sniffed at the decadence they saw around them as well as imported western values as well as mores. Well, their idea of western values as well as mores.
however For just two centuries before men had come to the east, settled down as well as raised families, intermingling with the local community as well as attaining positions of trust. as well as not just Europeans of course. There are records of sailors through Zheng He’s mighty treasure fleets settling down on the north coast of Java, marrying local women as well as adopting the local ways of life.
The port of Banten, just west of Jakarta, was the premier trading entrepot before Singapore arrived on the scene as well as like any port town the idea rocked to the sound of sailor’s shanties as well as randy seaman looking for their own piece of loving before their next extended shuttle round the eastern islands of the archipelago; a 17th century Pattaya. The raucous town is actually right now not much more than a distant memory. Not only contain the ships as well as sailors been long gone, even the sea shore has retreated through the once rowdy streets.
The archetypal image of course is actually of the bluff, red faced planter huffing as well as puffing out on the plantations far through ‘civilised’ society though a weekly trip to the club sated the desire to mix with his own kind. Out from the jungle though, beneath the canopy as well as amid the mighty jungles that will still housed tigers as well as leopards in large numbers, he satisfied his lustful desires in different ways.
Considered a classic piece of colonial literature by those who consider these things, Henri Fauconnier’s Soul of Malaya tells the tale of a French planter who arrives in pre independence Malaya just after the First World War who soon gets involved with the Tamil gardener’s wife.
The planter tries, half heartedly, to justify the tryst by saying he gets useful information however even he knows that will’s not true. He is actually a bit confused at first by the woman’s attitude. He has been given to understand that will usually when a local lady has been invited to share the white man’s bedroom she will then use her brand-new found status to lord the idea over others as well as seek advantages for herself as well as her family.
His partner though is actually discreet as well as he finds the idea mildly amusing, initially assuming, no doubt using a Gallic shrug of the shoulders, she is actually just a nymphomaniac; that will she was attracted by the sex as well as not the man. She was after an orgasm, not some baubles.
Of course despite her discreetness the whole estate knows what’s going on as well as he finds out, through a colleague, that will from the Tamil gardeners’ mind, he does not count. He has no caste as well as the idea of sharing his wife with the boss is actually on a level with the ancients sharing their wives with gods who fancy a bit of mortal once in a while. the idea is actually also revealed that will the estate lacks a garden so perhaps the gardener is actually just ensuring he keeps his job!
Of course what is actually ok for the ulu is actually not okay for the city as well as by the early days of the 20th century when rubber prices were booming, brand-new staff being sent east were told they could not get married during their first tour of duty as well as once they were in country they soon found out that will consorting using a local woman was a total breach of etiquette with disastrous consequences for the career of an ambitious young buck.
Even after the Second World War single men might often have to seek permission through their employer before they could get married. One gentleman in England wrote to the government of Sarawak, also based in England, asking for permission to tie the knot as well as was only allowed to do so once agreement through Sarawak had been received! He received that will not bad news from the form of a short, bureaucratic letter;
Dear Sir
With reference to your letter dated 30th May, I have received a telegram through Sarawak that will your request to marry is actually approved.
Yours faithfully
Government Agent.
Romantic bunch!
the idea’s not just men of course who have been seduced by the charms of the Orient. Consider the case of the late Cleo Odzer. She went to Thailand to catalogue the stories of men who went to Bangkok looking for love. Or lust. In her mind the idea was all the same thing as well as the opening chapters of her book ‘Patpong Sisters’ show her contempt for subjects.
However she alterations her tune when she herself falls for a young Thai man who works as a tout at a bar from the busy Patpong Road area. No one, the idea seems, is actually immune to the charms of the east!
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Love from the East
Love from the East