Question

What was the Blandongdiesten system?

Answer 1

Like the British, the Dutch wanted timber from Java for shipbuilding and railways. In $1882,2,80,000$ sleepers were exported from Java alone. However, all this required labour to cut the trees, transport the logs and prepare the sleepers.

The Dutch first imposed rents on land being cultivated in the forest and then exempted some villagers from these rents if they worked collectively to provide free labour and buffaloes for cutting and transporting timber. This was known as the Blendongdiestan system.