114 COMPEN'DIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



are of little value except for irrigation. JMuch detritus 

 is brought down by them in the rainy season, and from 

 this and other causes their bars are silting up and the 

 neighbouring land is encroaching upon the sea to the 

 extent of over 21 feet annually. In like manner the 

 Surabaya Strait has been filling up for years, and although 

 much was gained in 1854 by the diversion of one branch 

 of the Solo into a new channel, it is doubtful how long 

 the improved condition of affairs will last, and steps are 

 already being taken to prevent the closing of the 

 harbour which again threatens. 



The valleys of Java, like its streams, are innumerable, 

 but there are few inland plains of any extent. The 

 physical conditions of the country are not favourable to 

 their existence, and the same may be said concerning 

 lakes, of which there are none worthy of particular 

 mention. The most important plain, perhaps, is that of 

 Surakarta. Of the valleys, in point of beauty, the palm 

 must be yielded to Kadu, dominated as it is by the 

 magnificent volcanoes IMerbabu and Merapi on the one 

 side, and Sumbing and Sundara on the other. 



4. Climate and Meteorology. 



The climate of Java is on the whole hot and uniform, 

 as might be expected from its geographical position, but 

 its elevated plains and plateaux, from 1000 to 5000 

 feet above the sea, afford a variety of climates, some of 

 which are as near perfection as any that can be found. 

 The wet season is from October to March, when the 

 north-west monsoon blows, and the so-called dry season 

 from April to the end of September, during the prevalence 

 of the south-east winds ; but, as in all countries near the 



