Editing Multatuli (section)

===Menado, Ambon, and Lebak===
After holding several subordinate government positions in [[Nanjing]] in [[Qing dynasty]] [[China]] and [[Purworejo Regency|Purworedjo]] in [[Java]] [[Dutch East Indies|under colonial rule]] (now part of [[Indonesia]]), Douwes Dekker was appointed secretary to the [[:nl:Resident (bestuurder)|Resident]] of [[Manado|Menado]] in [[North Sulawesi|Noord-Celebes]] (now also part of [[Indonesia]]) in 1848. Here his career recovered, at least in part because the resident, [[:nl:Reinier Scherius|Reinier Scherius]], shared his strong sense of fair play towards the indigenous population. On his departure in 1851, Scherius recommended Douwes Dekker as his successor. The government decided otherwise; Multatuli had again amassed a deficit in the official funds and had also run up private debts, a situation that raised suspicions of financial irregularities but was never cleared up. Nonetheless, at the end of 1851 he was promoted up the administrative ladder, being sent to [[Ambon Island|Ambon]] as Assistant Resident.

After a few months, he went on furlough to the Netherlands for health reasons. From 1852 to May 1855 he was in Holland, where he gambled extensively and accumulated more debt. Despite his later success as a writer, he would be pursued by creditors for most of his adult life.

In 1857 he was appointed Assistant Resident of [[Lebak Regency|Lebak]], in the [[Bantam (city)|Bantam-Kidoel]] area of Java (now [[Banten]] province in Indonesia).<ref name=Memory1/> By this time, however, he had begun to openly protest against the abuses of the Dutch colonial system and was threatened with dismissal. Instead, he resigned his appointment and returned to the Netherlands.<ref name=Memory1/>