INHABITANTS OF JAVA. 



171 



tion of the province of Bantam by one hundred and sixty- eight thousand ; in 1848 

 several districts of Semarang also suffered much from the same cause, while in the 

 seven central provinces the poj)ulation diminished by three hundred and fifty-four 

 thousand in four years. But after periods of drought, the families again increase, 

 and the gaps are soon filled to overflowing. 



A certain number of Javanese emigrate to Borneo, Sumatra, and other islands, 

 but this outflow is greatly exceeded by the immigration, especially from China. 

 The Chinese already number over two hundred and twenty thousand, the majority 

 being Pernakans, that is, born in the island of Javanese mothers. But the paternal 

 type is little modified by the crossing, and even after several generations the 

 descendant of the Chinese may still be recognised under the Javanese national 

 garb. The children receive a Chinese education from teachers either introduced 

 from China, or who have passed their examinations there. In general, this 

 element is much dreaded by the other inhabitants of the island. As brokers, 

 contractors, farmers of monopolies, pawnbrokers, smugglers, and opium dealers. 



¥\g. 68. COMPAEATIVE InCEEASE OP POPULATION IN JaVA AND HoLLAND. 



I7C.0 1790 1800 1810 



20 1830 1840 1850 I860 1870 



they appropriate the better part of the profits on all transactions. By loans and 

 credit they forestall the very crops and legacies ; on their arrival they are your 

 humble servant, but presently your master ; " they expand like the lotus," 

 and in 1885 their estates in Java had a collective value of considerably over 

 £11,000,000. The Europeans look on them as rivals in the wholesale trade, yet 

 are fain to avail themselves of their services in acquiring a knowledge of men and 

 things. Even the Dutch Government, while on its guard against their indepen- 

 dence of character, their common national sentiment and secret brotherhoods, is 

 compelled to employ them in numerous offices needing order and careful attention. 

 Hence the decree of 1837, absolutely interdicting Chinese immigration, had soon to 

 be revoked, although access to the island was still rendered difficult to the " Children 

 of Han " by landing and resident charges, poll-taxes, passports, special imposts on 

 the several industries, and other harrassing burdens. They have still to pay a 

 special income-tax, and the result of this policy is that they increase at a less 

 rapid rate than the Javanese. 



