JAVA 1 2 1 



two species of jungle-fowl inhabit Java — one a very beau- 

 tiful species {Gallus furcatus), peculiar to the island and 

 those eastward of it as far as Suml^awa ; the other the 

 common jungle-fowl of India and the Malay countries 

 (Gallics hankiva), and the original stock of all our domestic 

 poultry. There are also several species of partridge and 

 quail, and some very beautiful pigeons, pre-eminent among 

 which is the mountain fruit-dove {PtUopus roseicollis), 

 whose entire head and neck are of an intense rosy-pink, 

 contrasting exquisitely with its otherwise green plumage. 



6. Inhabitants and Language. 



Setting aside Europeans and other immigrant races, 

 the inhabitants of Java belong to three nations, speaking 

 allied but distinct languages — the Sundanese, Javanese, and 

 Madurese. The Sundanese inhabit the country west of the 

 meridian of Cheribon, and from the mountainous character 

 of the district have remained the purest race. There are 

 fewer Sanscrit words in their languao;e than Javanese, owing; 

 to the greater absence of Hindu influence, and although 

 nominally of the Mohammedan religion, have retained and 

 incorporated with it not a little of their former super- 

 stitions and customs. The second nation, the Javanese, 

 are by far the most numerous, comprising nearly three- 

 quarters of the entire population, and extending over 

 the entire centre and east of the island, excepting the 

 northern portion of the eastern peninsula. They are the 

 most civilised and advanced of the native inhabitants, 

 their civilisation having been early brought about by the 

 wave of Hindu immigration which spread with rapidity 

 over a country well cultivated and easy of access. The 

 Madurese inhabit Madura and a great part of the eastern 



