625 



JAVA. 





Pkicr; .-. 



JAVA,* the southernmost of the Sunda islands, is situa- 

 ted between 6 and 9 of south latitude, and between 

 105" and 1 1 5' of east longitude from Greenwich. It ex- 

 tend*, nearly in the direction of east and west, about 

 650 miles, and its 'average breadth is about 95. On the 

 north lies the island of Borneo ; on the north-east, Ce- 

 lebes ; on the east, the islands of Bali and Madura ; on 

 the south and west, the Indian ocean ; and on the north- 

 west, the island of Sumatra, from which it is separated 

 by the Straits of Sunda, which, at the narrowest point, 

 are about 20 miles broad. On entering these straits a 

 fine prospect open* to the view. The low coast of Su- 

 matra appear* covered with trees, behind which its ma- 

 jestic mountain* rise in gradual ascent ; while the op- 

 posite coast of Java, not inferior in beauty, indicates 

 the fertility of its soil, by its numerous rice fields, and 

 grove* of cocoa-nut and palm tree*. 



The whole of the north coast of Java is low, swampy, 

 and woody ground, except a little to the west of Ban- 

 tam, where the high land strrtche* down to the sea- 

 coast. On this side are several bays where there is 

 aafe anchorage during the good or south-east monsoon ; 

 bat in the bad monsoon, when the north-west wind 

 blow* hard, it is dangerous to anchor near the coast. 

 The south coast is leaa known than the northern, and 

 is a bold rocky shore almost inaccessible. A chain of 

 high mountains, commencing at the eastern extremity, 

 in the province of Balamnouang. running to the west- 

 ward, and gradually decreasing in height, divides the 

 ialaml longitudinally into two part*, of which the north, 

 em section n the largect and best. 



In several mountain* of this great chain are observa- 

 ble the crater* of volcanoes, which were formerly vio- 

 lent in their eruptions, and many of which still emit 

 moke after heavy rain*. Numerous mineral springs of 

 various virtue* and temperature*, are found in their vi- 

 cinity. An account of a very carious natural phenome- 

 non in the plains of Grobogan, about 50 mile* N. E. of 

 Solo, ha* been published by Mr Brande, which may be 

 deacnring of notice in this place a* a species of volcanic 

 eruption*. A* a party from Solo " approached the vil- 

 lage of Kuhoo, they *aw, between two tree* in a plain, 

 an appearance like the *wrf breaking over rock*, with 

 a strong spray falling to leeward. The spot was com- 

 pletely surrounded by hut* for the manufacture of salt. 

 Alighting, they went to the him lugs, a* the Javanese 

 call them, and found them to be on an elevated plain of 

 mud, about two mile* in circumference, in the centre of 

 'fc*- which immense badie* of salt mud were thrown up to 

 the height of from ten to fifteen feet, in the form of 

 large globe*, which, bursting, emitted volume* of dense 

 white smoke. These large globe* or bubbles, of which 

 there were two, continued throwing up and bunting 

 even or eight time* in a minute by the watch. At 

 , they throw up two or three ton* of mud The 

 ; to leeward of the smoke, and found it to 

 like the washing of a gun-barrel. As the globes 

 burst, they threw the mud oat from the centre with a 

 pretty loud noise, occasioned by the falling of the mud 

 poo that which surrounded it, and of which the plain 



is composed. It was difficult and dangerous to approach ^ Java, 

 the large globes or bubbles, as the ground was all a * ""Y""' 

 quagmire, except where the surface of the mud had be- 

 come hardened by the sun. Upon this they approach- 

 ed cautiously to within fifty yards of the largest bubble, 

 or mud pudding, as it might very properly be called ; 

 for it was of the consistency of a custard pudding, and 

 of very considerable diameter. They also got close to 

 a small globe or bubble, (the plain was full of them of 

 different sizes, ) and observed it closely for some time. 

 It appeared to heave and swell ; and when the internal 

 air had raised it to some height, it burst, and the mud 

 fell down in concentric circles, in which shape it re- 

 mained quiet, until a sufficient quantity of air was again 

 formed internally to raise and burst another bubble. 

 This continued at intervals from about one half to two 

 minutes. From various other parts of the quagmire, 

 round the large globes or bubbles, there were occasion- 

 ally small quantities of mud shot up like rockets to the 

 height of 20 or 30 feet, and accompanied by smoke. 

 This was in parts where the mud was of too stiff a con- 

 sistency to rise in globes or bubbles. The mud, at all 

 the places they came near, was cold on the surface; 

 but they were told it was warm beneath. The water 

 which drains from the mud is collected by the Javanese, 

 and, by being exposed in the hollows of split bamboos 

 to the rays of the sun, deposits crystals of salt." 



Java is watered by a great number of rivers, which Riven. 

 descend from the central chain of mountains ; but, on 

 account of their shallow channels, and the sand banks 

 at their outlets, none of them is navigable by vessels 

 even of a moderate size. All along the coast of the 

 island, high and low water occur only once in 2 1 hours, 

 and the changes of the moon have no influence on the 

 tides. 



A military road traverses the island nearly from west Roads. 

 to east for upward* of 700 miles ; and will remain a 

 monument of the perseverance and enterprize of Gene- 

 ral Daendels. Twelve thousand men are said to have 

 perished in its formation, from the insalubrity of the 

 tracts through which it runs. It is conducted over 

 mountainous regions of vast extent, through immense 

 forect*, and numerous marshes and rice fields. There 

 are numerous road* in the environs of Batavia, shaded 

 with trees, ornamented with handsome villas in their 

 vicinity, and crossing in various directions rivers and 

 stream* on stone and timber bridges. The new eastern 

 road towards Buitenzorg presents every advantage for 

 expeditious travelling. On this road, extending as far 

 as Kalatigas, 700 miles east of Batavia, there were for- ' 

 merly regular post stages at every five or six miles ; but 

 the relays of post horse* have been lately withdrawn 

 between Buitenzorg and Samarang, and the same faci- 

 lity of passing through the regencies does not now exist. 

 The ordinary country roads in the interior are passable 

 only for the native carts drawn by buffaloes. 



The principal towns and stations in Java, besides Ba- Towni and 

 tavia the capital of the country, are Weltervreeden, tttion*. 

 Cornelia, Bantam, Samarang, Solo or Soura Carts, 

 Djoejocarta, and Sourabhaya. Weltervreeden, about 





Bj Ptolemy It is railed th Iilir.d of Barley, and it name Yaa la uid to have that iignification ; but the grain is unknown to 

 the inhabitant*, and will not grow in the -utaad, ticcpt in MOW mountainous tracts, where it baa been railed by Europeans as a cu- 

 riosity. 



VOL. XI. TART II. 4 K 



