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fomc yearn, which bank is united with the Lombard or bank 

 for Icndiii^j money on pledges. This bank is under the ad- 

 minillration of a diroftor (ivho is generally a counfellor of 

 India), two coMiniilFarics, a cafiiier, and a book-keeper. Its 

 capital is computed to amount to between two and three 

 millions of rix-dollars, or between 435,0001. and 650,000!. 

 llcrling. 



The fuburbs of Batavi^ are remarkable on account of their 

 confidcrable extent, uncuminon plcafantnefs, and great po- 

 pulation. They are inhabited by Indians of various nations, 

 and by fome Europeans ; but the quarter of the Chinefe is 

 the mod populous, and fccms of itfelf a city. None of the 

 ftreets of Batavia arc paved ; but along the fides of them 

 near the houfes are ilone foot-paths, about three or four 

 feet broad. The (Ireets and canals are planted on each fide 

 with large trees, generally tiie " onophyilum catophyllon," 

 and " caiaba," the " canarium coinmune," and others of a 

 {career fort. The Dutch, who are fo fond of gardens in 

 Holland, have indulged that talle to a great extent at their 

 houfes in the environs of Batavia, which are ever)' where in- 

 terfperfed with livulets, by whicli the circumjacent rice 

 plantations are inundated, and fertilized in the proper ieafon. 

 The countr)', though it be a fenny dilbicl, of which a gen- 

 tleman upon the fpot ufed the ilrong expreffion, " thai the 

 air was peftilential, and the water poifonous," is neverthelefs 

 every where fo verdant, gay, and fertile, iiiterfpeifcd with 

 fuch magnificent houfes, gardens, avenues, canals, and draw- 

 bridges, and fo formed in every refpeft to plcafe, it health 

 could be prcferved in it, that a youth ju(l coming from 

 fca, and enraptured with the beauty of every objeft he faw 

 arouiid him, but mindful of the danger to which life was ex- 

 pofcd, could not help exclaiming, " What an excellent 

 habitation would it be for immortals!" There are five 

 principal roads which lead from the city towards the 

 country, and they are all planted with high and fiiady 

 trees, and adorned with handfome houfes and plealant 

 gardens. 



As to the habits and mode of living of the inhabitants of 

 Batavia, they very much depend on the views and difpofitions 

 with which ihry rtfort hillier, on the fituaticn which thfy 

 occupy, and on the qualities of the climate. The native Ja- 

 van,;fe are in general too remote from civilization to have 

 any wants that are not eafily fatisficd, in a warm and fertile 

 climate. No attempt is made to enflave their peribiis ; 

 and they find the government of the Dutch lefs vexatious 

 than that of others who divide fome (hare of the fovereignty 

 of the ifland with them. As for the Chinefe, who are con- 

 llantly lefortnig hither from China in the veflels called 

 *' junks," their views are fimilar to thofe which influence the 

 natives of Holland, and they are alike actuated by the defire 

 of accumulating wealth in a foreign land : both the one 

 and the other were trained in their ovni counti-y to habits 

 of induilry ; but upon their arrival in Batavia, they are placed 

 in different circumftances, and acquire different manners. 

 The Chinefe, having no profpecl of advancement by favour 

 and intcreft, apply with dihgence to the occupation that is 

 alligned them, and by exertion and economy meliorate their 

 condition, without being able to gratify their ambition by 

 the attainment of any public offices. In the city, they be- 

 come retailers, clerks, and agents ; and in the country, 

 they are farmers, and the principal cultivators of the fugar- 

 cane. Tnus they at length acquire fortunes, whxh they 

 value by the time and labour required to earn them ; and 

 this gradual acquifition makes no change in their difpofitiou 

 or mode of life ; their indnltry is not diminiflied, nor is their 

 health impaired. The Dutch, on the contrary, who are 

 ftnt out by the company to adminiiter their affairs in Afia, 



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bfcome foon fenfible that they have the power, wealth, and 

 pofilirums of the country at their diipofal. Thofe wh.o 

 furvive the dejiredations of the climate, mount by a quick 

 gradation to ofliccs, lucrative but not laborious. Their in- 

 fluence likewile enables them to fpcculatein trade with great 

 advantage. The drudgery of bufinefs is readily undertaken 

 bv the Chinefe, who, like the native Banians and Debafhes 

 in Calcutta and Madras, are employed as fubordinate inftru- 

 ments; while their principals find it difficult, under fuch ncT 

 circumllancts, to retain their former habits, or to refill a pro- 

 penfity to indolence and voluptuoufnefs, though often at- 

 tended with the facrifice of health, if not of life. Convivial 

 pleafures, among others, are frequently purfued to excefs. 

 " The Chinefe," fays Stavorinus, " are like the Jews in 

 Europe, very cunning in trade, both in the largeft dealings, 

 and in the mod trifling pedlary. They are fo dtfirous of 

 money, that a Chinefe will run tliree times from one end of 

 the city to the other, if he has the profpeft of gaining a 

 fingle penny." He adds ; " in doing bufinefs with them, 

 the greateft care muft be taken to avoid being cheated." 

 In ilature they are rather Oiort than tail, and in colour not 

 fo brown as the Javanefe. Their head^ are (haved all round, 

 excrpt a bunch of hair on the middle of the crown, which 

 is twilled with a ribbon that hangs down the back. Their 

 drefs confills of a long robe of nankeen or thin filk, with 

 wile (leeves, and under it they wear drawers of the fame, 

 which cover the legs. In their houfes they hang up in cer- 

 tain niches, images of their " joofljes" or idols, painted on 

 Chinefe paper, before which they burn lamps and incenfe. 

 This joo'.lje they confider as an evil fpirit, aiid therefore they 

 continually fupplicate him not to do them any harm. In 

 their adorations, they proftrate themfelves before him, and 

 exprefs their reverence by ftriking their heads continually 

 againft the ground. They likewile confult their idol by a 

 peculiar mode of divination, when they engage in any im- 

 portant undertaking. Notwithllanding this fuperftition, the 

 Chinefe are accufed of gratifying their lulls by the moil de- 

 tellablc violations of the law of natuft. Their tombs are 

 magnificent and coftly ; and great numbers of them are to 

 be leen about half an hoar's walk from Batavia, on the road 

 to Jaccatra. When a Chinefe of any note dies, his death is 

 formally announced to all the branches of the family. The 

 body is walhed, perfumed, and dreffed in the bed apparel of 

 the deceafed. The corpfe is then feated in a chair ; and his 

 wives, children, and relations, fall down before it and weep. 

 On the third day it is put into-a coffin, and placed in one of 

 the bed apartments, hung with white hnen, the colour api 

 propriated by them to mourning. In the middle of the 

 apartment is erefted an altar; on which is placed the por- 

 trait of the deceafed, with incenfe burning near it. On one 

 fide of the coffin dand the fons, dreffed in white coarfe linen, 

 exhibiting every fign of forrow ; while the mother and fe- 

 male relations are heard lamenting behind a curtain. On 

 the day of burial, the whole family affembles, and the corpfe 

 is carried to the grave with much folemn pomp. Imai^es of 

 men and women, relations of the family (in the manner of 

 the ancient Romans), and even of animals, together with 

 wax tapers and incenfiiries, are carried fird in the proceffion. 

 Then follow the prieds v/ith mufical inllruments; and after 

 them thc.corpfe upon a bier, attended by the fons of the de- 

 ceafed, clothed in white, and leaning upon crutches, as if 

 difabled by grief from fiipporting themfelves. The female 

 relations are carried in. chairs, hung v.ith curtains of white 

 filk, that conceal them from view ; but their lamentations 

 are didinttly heard ; and other women are hired, who are 

 trained to utter dirieks dill lo.ider and more piercing. Pre- 

 vioufly to the funeral, a table with fruits and other eatables 



