14 BROUWER and WING EASTON 



4. COMMUNICATION. 



As has already been observed sub 1, the traffic between the 

 different islands is as a rule only carried on by means of the boats 

 of the Royal Packet Company, which keep up a fairly regular 

 service even to remote corners of the Archipelago; to persons who 

 can prove that they travel for scientific purposes only, the board 

 of the Company at "Weltevreden allow, a reduction of 15% on 

 passage and luggage in excess. On application to the civil autho- 

 rities the traveller may be permitted in some cases the use of the 

 vessels which are at the disposal of the government officials. Besides 

 there are vessels under European or Chinese management on ser- 

 vice here and there (Sumatra, Borneo). 



Java occupies quite an important place in regard to land com- 

 munication. A fairly extensive network of railroads and tramways 

 covers a great portion of the islands, and the more important towns 

 are all connected with the stations by means of highways passable 

 for all vehicles, and also as a rule to motor-cars. Where ever these 

 conveniences of travel are wanting, the country can generally be 

 easily traversed along good foot- or horse-paths. Almost the whole 

 island has been cultivated. Only small parts, especially near the 

 South-coast are poorly accessible. Only there and on the slope of 

 volcanoes the traveller may have recourse to the slow work of 

 cutting his way through the jungle. Even in rernqter districts there 

 will generally be an opportunity of availing oneself temporarily of 

 a native hut, so that bivouac-building is seldom necessary. In short, 

 in respect to traffic, Java approaches Europe much more than the 

 rest of the Dutch Indies. Many parts of Europe and America offer 

 more difficulties to the traveller than Java. Because of the fact 

 that the rivers are hardly navigable, river-traffic is insignificant. 



Sumatra. Here the development of traffic is advancing speedily. 

 The present traveller and those of the nearest future will have a 

 much lighter task than the pioneers of previous years. Compared 

 with Java and the islands to be mentioned hereafter, Sumatra is 

 in a kind of transition-stage. Some parts have already been cultivated 

 so intensively and have been provided with such a network of 

 beautiful roads, that they are nearly equal to Java in respect 

 to conveniences (Deli, parts of Sumatra's West-coast and of Palem- 

 bang). On the other hand there are still vast regions devoid of any 

 modern form of communication. 



With respect to the Eastern half of the island there are numerous 



