TOPOGEAPHY OF JAVA. 



183 



Fig. 74. — Batavia in 1628. 

 Scale 1 : 20,000. 



verting the lower quarters into swamps and causing the land to advance seawards. 



Batavia thus became still more unhealthy than before, and at the same time lost the 



advantage of its marine position. At present it lies considerably over a mile from 



the coast and the canalized 



river has had to be extended 



the same distance to reach deep 



water. 



Leaving the old town to 

 the Malay custom-house offi- 

 cers and the teeming Chinese 

 population, the Europeans have 

 established their new quarter 

 some miles farther south on 

 more elevated ground, every- 

 where planting broad avenues 

 and laying out gardens and 

 shrubberies. The central 



quarter of Weltevreden, com- 

 prising the chief public build- 

 ings and large hotels, combines 

 the aspects of a fine city and 

 magnificent park, where 

 flourish most of the tropical 

 plants distinguished by the 

 splendour of their flowers and 

 foliage. Round about this dis- 

 trict and beyond the extensive 

 grassy tract of Koninrfs Plein 

 ("The King's Plain") other 

 quarters have sprung up on 

 the western slopes, and these 

 also are everywhere inter- 

 spersed with gardens and 

 shady groves, the favourite 

 evening promenade of the Euro- 

 peans. Northwards, a district 



of suburban residences, skirting the canal, stretches away to Old Batavia, and is 

 continued southwards as far as Meesfer Cornelis, another group of scattered quarters 

 separated administratively from Batavia proper, but all belonging to the same 

 system. The whole is encircled by the palm-groves of the native kampongs. 



Batavia is the seat of the oldest and most flourishing learned societies in the 

 Eastern Archipelago. It also possesses a medical school, libraries, a museum, and 

 some periodicals of high scientific value. 



The maritime quarter of Tanjong Priok, also forming part of Batavia, is of 



, 550 Yards. 



