168 ATJSTEALASIA. 



and to some extent even the grammar. Intermediate between the two is the 

 Madyo, current amongst intimate friends. 



The dialect of the island of Madura differs sufficiently from Javanese to be 

 regarded as a distinct idiom. It is spoken not only in Madura, but also in the 

 eastern parts of Java, where it is even encroaching on the Javanese, just as the 

 latter is upon the Sundanese. All three are written with characters derived from 

 the Indian Devanagari. 



Physically the Javanese are noted for their graceful forms and delicate 

 features. They are rather below the average height, but always of slim and 

 supple figure, and even better proportioned than other Malays. The complexion 

 varies from a pale yellow to a • deep olive, according to occupation, diet, and 

 locality. The nose, without being flat, is but slightly prominent, the mouth firm, 

 the eyes broad and well opened, the face round, with a kindly courteous expression, 

 often sad, plaintive, or resigned. Princes wear a moustache in the Hindu style. 



Altogether the Javanese are an extremely mild race, although by some accused 

 of being fanatical, faithless, spiteful, and revengeful. Inhabiting a land well 

 suited for tillage, they early became agriculturists, and long raised sufficient to 

 supply the local demand. However rapidly the population increased, the produce 

 was always superabundant in a region where a few hours' labour sufficed to procure 

 three daily meals of rice with fish and a little buffalo meat, and where the climate 

 enabled the natives to dispense with clothes, fuel, and even houses. Hence the 

 Javanese naturally acquired the peaceful habits of the peasant, and a communal 

 life became highly developed in the rice-growing districts where collective labour 

 was required. 



On the other hand, a certain timidity of character was fostered by the 

 tremendous energy of the natural forces by which they were surrounded — terrific 

 thunderstorms, yearly fatal to hundreds and destructive to houses and villages ; 

 volcanoes belching forth torrents of scoriœ, molten lavas, and dense volumes of 

 smoke and ashes turning day into night ; igneous outbursts, by which whole 

 populations with their dwellings and crops were at times swept away in a few 

 hours ; inundations spreading havoc far and wide, and all these horrors increased 

 by the wild beasts prowling about the habitations of man. 



But from man himself came still worse perils and plagues. The early history 

 of the country following the stone age is wrapped in obscurity, but we know that 

 for the last twenty centuries, the inhabitants of the island have always had foreign 

 rulers or oppressors. The highland tribes may here and there have maintained 

 their independence, protected by their rocky fastnesses, dense forests, rugged 

 heights, or even the crater mouths themselves. But the agricultural lowlanders, 

 scattered over a region with scarcely any natural bulwarks, were at all times 

 exposed to foreign invasion, and had everywhere to bend the neck to the yoke of 

 servitude. The very form of the island, a long parallelogram disposed in 

 transverse avenues by volcanic ranges, prevented the development of a compact 

 nation with a certain political cohesion and capable of presenting a firm front ta 

 invading hosts. 



