General view of Java. 37 



Java is situated between 105° 11' and 114° 33' east longitude, 

 extending eastward from the straits of Sunda, with a slight devi- 

 ation to the south ; and is included within 5" 52' and 8° 46' south 

 latitude. Its length in a right line, measured from the south- 

 eastern extremity, to the beautiful promontory towards the west, 

 called Java Head, so well known to navigators as the first point made 

 by vessels approaching the island from the southward, is 666 statute 

 miles, its breadth varying from 66 to 135f miles ; whilst itsarea is 

 equal to about 50,000 statute square miles. Its general figure is that 

 of a parallelogram, or rather of several parallelograms of different 

 proportions united ; and its outline is so regular, that the island 

 might be entirely divided into five or six parts of the same figure. 

 On the southern and western sides it is washed by the Indian 

 Ocean : on the north-west by the straits of Sunda, on the north 

 by the sea of Java, which separates it from Borneo, and at the 

 south-eastern extremity by the straits of Bali, only two miles wide^ 

 by which it is divided from the island of that name. Towards 

 .the eastern termination is the priucipal harbour, that of Soura- 

 baya, formed by the approaching coasts of Java and the island of 

 Madura. This harbour i^ very spacious, secure against the vio- 

 lence of the wayes and the wind, and might be rendered im.- 

 pregnable to any armed force. No region in the Avorld, probably, 

 is better watered than Java, for though the size of the island does 

 not admit the existence of large rivers, the streams in every direc- 

 tion are singularly numerous and useful. The scenery, especially 

 in the interior and southern provinces, is bold in outline and 

 prominent in its features ; an uninterrupted range of large moun- 

 tains, evincing their volcanic nature by their conical form, exteod 

 throughout the island, their summits being elevated above the sea 

 from five, to eleven, and even twelve thousand feet. These ro- 

 mantic provinces, indeed, unite all the highly diversified and rich 

 scenery, which waving forests, never-failing streams, and constant 

 verdure can present ; heightened by a pure atmosphere and the 

 glowing tints of a tropical sun. And with respect to climate, it 

 is now known, that, excepting a few places, extremely unhealthy 

 from local causes only, which were most unwisely colonized by the 

 Dutch, Java is equal in salubrity to the healthiest parts of British 

 India, or indeed to any tropical region of the globe. 



