JAVA 135 



other, are roughly built, and ornamented with sculptures 

 of a grotesque and obscene nature and rude execution. 

 There are no Hindu images, but representations of 

 animals and monsters only, and the temples were no 

 doubt dedicated to the worship of the Linga or Hindu 

 Priapus in its grossest form. The whole country from 

 Gunong Prau to Jokjokarta, a distance of 60 miles, 

 abounds with ruins, so that fine sculptured images may 

 be seen built into the walls of enclosures, or lying 

 neglected in ditches. AVlien all these wonderful build- 

 ings were in their full perfection Java must have 

 presented a very different appearance from that of the 

 present day, when wooden houses or low white-washed 

 huts are alone to be seen through the greater part of 

 the interior. The Mohammedans destroyed most of 

 these temples as signs of paganism, and they are now 

 looked upon by the natives as the work of superior 

 beings or of demons, and the arts of architecture and 

 sculpture are totally lost. 



9. Agriculture and Trade. 



The Malay of Java is perhaps more essentially an 

 agriculturist than any others of his race in the archipelago. 

 Eice being the staple food, enormous quantities of it are 

 needed and produced for the twenty-three million persons 

 inhabiting the island, and the harvest may be put at an 

 average of 4^ millions of tons. Very little is exported, and 

 indeed in some years importation is even necessary. The 

 common Oryza sativa is grown chiefly upon the irrigated 

 lower grounds or saivatis, but other varieties of the cereal 

 are used for the non-irrigated or tagal lands. Its culti- 

 vation with the natives is almost a religion, and is hedged 



