JAVA. 



6JS 



JM. 



. kf 



in 1811. 



stones were discovered in the interior, covered with in- 

 scriptions, which Mr Marsden ascertained to be writ- 

 ten in the Square Pali, a sacred character of the Bir- 

 mans. The most extensive remains of these Hindoo 

 structures are found at Borong Budor (the place of 

 many idols) in the district of Cadoc, at Bran.banam, 

 and in the districts of Mataram, and Ballenbouang. 

 In the adjoining island of Bally, the religion of Buddha 

 still predominates ; and a few idolaters are found in 

 the eastern mountains of Java ; but the prevailing re- 

 ligion at present is that of Mahoramed, adulterated by 

 many anpmitimis relics of the ancient systems. The 

 Mahommedan faith was introduced in 1406, by Sheikh 

 ibn Molana, or Ben Israel, an Arabian, who soon be- 

 eame a powerful sovereign, as well as a venerated 

 apostle in the island. The king* of Bantam and Che- 

 noon claim him as their ancestor ; and pilgrimages 

 are performed to his Mosque and Mausoleum, which 

 stand near the town of Chcribon, and are ranked among 

 the most curious antiquities ef the Kastern Isles. The 

 Javanese Mahommedans do not bury their dead in cof- 

 fins, but merely wrap the bodies in a piece of white 

 doth before being deposited in the grave ; and place 

 two Mooes, one at the head and another at the feet, 

 which they believe will serve as seats to the two an- 

 gel*, who are to examine after death into the conduct 

 of every individual in this world. 



We shall now conclude this article with an account 

 of the British expedition to Java, abridged from the de- 

 tailed account published by Major Thorn, an intelligent 

 and enterprising officer, who was himself attached to the 

 staff of the forces employed there ; and as the- reduc- 

 tion of Java present* a aerie* of brilliant achievements 

 of the British arms, the splendour of which appears 

 not to have been duly appreciated by the public, or 

 to have been lost in the greatness of the efforts of our 

 countrymen in 

 shall prevent our 

 operation* of the army till the final subjugation of the 

 island. 



The force lUslinrd for the attack of Java amounted 

 to upward* of 5000 European*, and an equal number 

 of native troops of the East India Company'* service. 

 nearly 12,000 men in all, under the ir~--' command 

 of I if utenant General Sir Samuel Achmuty, com- 

 in chief at Madras. Of these, abort SflOO were 

 from sicknea* when they landed at Java. 

 The British am* sennit, cernpoaed of 4 line of battle 

 hip*, 14 frigate*, 7 sloop* of war, 8 East India Com- 

 pany* auJnii, H ttanapoi't*. and several pun-boats, 

 in all about 100 sail, anchored in the bay of Balavia 

 on Sunday the 4th of August 1811, and the debarka- 

 tion of the troop* took place on the same day, at Chit- 

 t'anyhing, village about 10 miles to the eastward of 

 A* the point of landing was left exposed by 

 debarkation was effected without loss 

 It was the commander in chief's in- 

 to advance direct to Cornell*, about nine or 

 ten mile* in the interior, where the enemy was post- 

 ed in force, and to endeavour to penetrate by the 

 of Batavia, placing that city in the rear, from 

 " might derive supplies, and keep up the 

 with the fleet. In pursuance of this 

 plan, Colonel Gilleapie, with an escort of dragoons, 

 reconnoitred the road and country along the coast 

 tenamrd* Batavia, to within two mile* of the capital. 

 The vidette* of the enemy were observed on the other 

 VOL. xi. pAjtr n. 



the plains of Spain and Belgium, we 

 readers with a succinct account of the 



side of the Anjole river, which flowed between them >" 

 and our troops, and the bridge across which was burnt s ""~\ - ^ 1 ^ 

 down. It was a matter or' surprize that the country 

 was yielded up as far as this river without dispute, as, 

 from its intricate and difficult nature, an active enemy 

 might have opposed serious obstacles to an advance. 

 The inactivity of the enemy, and the little appearance 

 of force on the Batavia side, together with a serious 

 conflagration in the city, induced the commander in 

 chief to attempt the passage of the Anjole. This was 

 effected without opposition by the advance of the ar- 

 my at 10 o'clock at night, on a bridge of boats provided 

 by the navy, the enemy having contented himself 

 with breaking down the bridges, over the different ca- 

 nals and rivulets, to impede the approach to the city, 

 without risking any actual engagement. 



The capital being summoned on the 8th of August, 

 the mayor made his appearance on the part of the 

 burghers, to beg protection for them. Although little 

 information of the enemy could be procured from this 

 MHirce, it was ascertained that they were assembled in 

 force at Weltervreeden and Cornelis, the former place be- 

 ing about three miles distant from Batavia. The British 

 began now to experience the consequences of being in 

 ahostile country .the respectable inhabitants having been 

 compelled to retire into the interior, and the water con- 

 duits having been destroyed, to cut off as much as possi- 

 ble a supply of water. In this state of affairs it became 

 expedient to act with caution. A small party was push- 

 ed into the city to reconnoitre. Several of the enemy's 

 videttes just shewed themselves, and galloped off in 

 the direction of Weltervreeden. The party occupied Occupation 

 the town-bouse, and by their presence rescued much of Batavia, 

 valuable property from plunder and destruction. The 

 town having surrendered at discretion, a royal salute 

 was fired from the shipping, on hoisting the British 

 flag at the crane wharf, intelligence being received that 

 the enemy meditated a night attack upon the detach- 

 ment in the town, the men were called out at 1 1 o'clock 

 at night, and ordered to lie upon their arms. Scarcely 

 had they taken post, when the head of the enemy's 

 column appeared, and opened a fire on the piquet sta- 

 stioned at the bridge leading to Weltervreeden. There 

 was just time to raise the draw-bridge. The firing in- 

 creasing all around the town, Colonel Gillespie sallied 

 out at the head of a party to charge the enemy's ad- 

 vance in flank. This movement had the desired effect. 

 The firing ceased, and the enemy were seen no more 

 during the night. On the following evening, the town 

 was saved from destruction by the discovery of a Malay, 

 with a fire-brand in his hand, in the act of setting tin- to 

 magazines containing a great quantity of gunpowder. 



Hitherto we have seen success attending the expedi- 

 tion, in consequence of the remissness of the enemy in 

 obstructing its progress, and in making use of the 

 means of defence within their reach. We perceive a dif- 

 ficult country yielded up without opposition, a river 

 passed without contest, and the capital taken posses- 

 sion of without the loss of a man. General Janssens 

 appears to have been deficient in the use of his light 



troops, with which he was well provided ; and instead 

 of retarding the operations of an invading army, which 

 proves always disastrous to it, he concentrated his chief 

 resources within a short march of the capital, and at 

 once brought on a general engagement, the most de- 

 sirable object for the British commander. Success over 



The British force and its guns being transported the f "^ 

 across the Anjole, the advance, consisting of 1000 Eu- " 

 4 L 



