160 Rosenhain, A Naturalist in Java. [voixj 



Nat. 

 XXII. 



its shade at any time of the day. The post-office is also sur- 

 rounded by immense kanari. Along the streets in this quarter 

 the tamarinds are enormous. The beauty of all these trees 

 is that they arc green all the year. It is almosl impossible to 

 photograph them ; they are too immense. The added beauty 

 of these trees is that they are useful. The kanari has a nut 

 kernel like an almond, just as large, but of a more deli' ate 

 taste, and is much sought by the Javanese ; the tamarind is 

 also an article of commerce, while the Ficus elastica is the 

 native rubber-tree. 



Besides these shad" t . . js there are the waringin trees, 

 probably belonging to the banyan family, which also grow to 

 an enormous size. In front of our hotel in Weltev-reden is one 

 such tree, which completely shuts out any sighl of the large 

 buildings behind. This tree could certainly shelter the in- 

 habitants of a fair-sized village. 



In such a wonderland as Java one can only see a few oul oi 

 the hundreds oi places worth visiting. Java is lavishly 

 endowed with every form of luxurious vegetation, and is capable 

 oi cultivation to the highest degree. Two or three crops pei 

 year can be gathered from the fertile soil by employing a 

 system of rotation encouraged by the Dutch. 



[ava is the home oi tropical vegetation. There are rare 

 specimens of flora and fauna to attraci botanists and zoologists. 

 volcanoes and othei phenomena to interesi geologists, racial 

 Governmental problems for students oi colonial administration, 

 mined temples to occupy the attention of the archaeologist, 

 big game for hunting, novel scenes and objects to busy the 

 sighl seer, i oll< < tor, or photographer. 



The jungle in Java is intensely beautiful. No photograph, 

 sketch, or description can adequately picture the mysterious 

 nature oi the jungle magnificenl trees, giants oi the forests, 

 creepers which climb from tree to tree with large, variegated 

 leaves, rattans which attain a length oi .1 hundred yards, and 

 probably grow several in< hes in a day, wonderful orchids, palms. 

 tree-ferns, flame-trees, &c, &c. The scene is bewildering. 

 There is an atm oi ind< 1 ribable something in this dense 



and almosl impenetrable foresi ; the beaut} oi the scene, the 

 marvellous wealth oi nature, absolutely carry one away for 

 the time being. On one occasion, while travelling in the train, 

 ■ oi flame-trees in flower (Flantboyane). \ 

 t.n as one could see there was one mass oi large, brighl red 

 flowers. I In- tn-e- were all about 12 feel high, and this mass 

 .,l red carpel can bettei 1"- Imagined than described. It took 

 the train twenty minutes to pass this beauty spot. Wild- 

 flow* rs, however, are few, hence the absence oi coloui ; in fact, 

 Java is very poorly endowed with flowers "l any kind. 



