138 COMPEXDIUM OF GEOGRArHY AND TRAVEL 



about £2,000,000. Other noteAvorthy products, placed 

 in the order of their value, are indigo, tea, hides, pepper, 

 gum-dammar, copra, and coco-nuts, while large quantities 

 of teak find their way from the Government forests to 

 European shipbuilding yards. The import trade is a 

 thriving one. Cotton goods to the value of two million 

 pounds annually pass the custom-house, and the mineral 

 oil lamps which light nearly every peasant's hut consume 

 over 20 million gallons per annum. Concessions were 

 granted in 1890, both in Java and Sumatra, for the 

 working of petroleum, and the prospects are said to be 

 very encouraging. 



The villages, embowered in fruit trees and coco-nut 

 palms, appear like gardens. Vast quantities of bananas 

 are grown, of many different A^arieties, among them a 

 bright red plantain from 12 to 16 inches in length. 

 Cassava and yams are also much cultivated. The island 

 is said to be insufficiently stocked with cattle, especially 

 in the Sunda districts. The census of January 1889 

 showed a slight increase. There were then 2,630,400 

 buffaloes, 2,208,100 bullocks, and 536,900 horses. The 

 latter animals, although useful and strong for their size, 

 are not equal to the smaller race from Sumbawa and 

 Sandalwood Island, or even to the ponies of Sumatra. 

 The total value of the exports from Java in 1890 

 amounted to £10,494,353. 



10. Government and Revenue. 



The system of administration in Java has already 

 been described (p. 99). It remains only to be said that 

 the aim of the Government is to rule the natives by 

 natives — if not actually, at all events nominally. The 



