JAVA 113 



Besides the true volcanoes there are many hill ranges 

 and lesser mountains in Java ; and skirting the southern 

 shore there is a great range of low mountains about 3000 

 feet in height, formed of basalt, trap, and sometimes of 

 limestone. This latter appears to be of Miocene age, as 

 it contains shells and corals allied to those of the 

 European Miocene, as well as others similar to those 

 which now live in Eastern seas, three out of twenty-two 

 being living species. 



The rivers of Java, especially on the north side, are 

 almost innumerable, but from the form of the island 

 they are of comparatively small size, and a few only 

 are navigable for boats. Their rapid flow and perennial 

 supply of water are excellently adapted for irrigation, to 

 the practice of which much of the fertility of the country 

 is due. The largest and most useful river of the island 

 is that usually called the Solo Piiver, from its passing the 

 native capital of that name. It has its source in one of 

 the low ranges of hills towards the southern side of the 

 island, and after a tortuous course of 310 miles empties 

 itself into the sea by two mouths opposite the western 

 end of Madura. Except for three months, from August 

 to October, it is navigable by large boats, and at all times 

 by small ones. It would even be accessible to ocean 

 vessels but for the bar at its mouth. The next largest 

 river is the Brantas, or river of Surabaya. This also 

 rises near the southern coast, on the west side of the 

 Semeru mountain, and after receiving many affluents, 

 enters the sea by two mouths, one of which passes the 

 town of Surabaya and contributes to form its harbour. 

 In the west of Java the Chi Tarum (Chi, or Tji as it is 

 usually written, being the Sundanese word for river) and 

 the Chi jManuk are the most important rivers, but they 



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