JAVA SUMATRA 



whole of Northern Borneo a reputation for wisdom, for goodness, and for honour which will 

 dignify the name of Englishmen for generations to come."* 



JAVA. 



THE Island of Java is most densely populated in its eastern part. In the year 1780 the 

 population was about 2,000,000, in January 1890 it was estimated at nearly 23,000,000, and 

 in 1892 was probably as much as 24,000,000; of these over 42,000 were Europeans, about 

 13,000 "Arabs," and 233,717 Chinese. Batavia, the capital of Western Java, is the great 

 emporium of the vast archipelago, and traders' vessels come hither from almost every island. 

 In this province weaving is a great industry. The Dutch have laid down many railways, and 



a pkotof/ra/jh in Leyden Museum. 



BATTA WARRIORS. 



their law compels every peasant to work a certain number of days upon the roads, with 

 excellent results. The customs of the Malays of Java call for no special description. It may 

 be mentioned, however, that, whereas among the Malays generally only the men dance, in 

 Java both sexes take an active part in this pastime. Another favourite amusement is fighting 

 with wild beasts, and even the tiger and the rhinoceros are brought into the arena. 



SUMATRA. 



THE natives of Sumatra are all Malays, but the different tribes have their own languages 

 and customs. The population is over 3,500,000. They are fairly civilised, cultivating the land, 



* The reader who wishes to learn more about Dyas and their ways should consult the great work by Mr. Ling Roth, 

 on "The Sarawaks of North British Borneo" (1896). 



