HALT AT MAJOKERTO. 131 



head of its delta, as near Majokerto it begins to 

 divide into several branches, the two principal of 

 which run, one to Sourabaya, the other to Porong, 

 each about thirty miles distant from Majokerto, in 

 a straight line. 



Mr. Boyd, an English gentleman, whom we met 

 here, informed us that there were old traditions 

 among the Javanese that Majokerto had once been 

 a seaport town, and that battles had been fought 

 here between the inhabitants and pirates, who were 

 said to be Chinese. While, however, it is certain 

 that the sea once flowed at this spot, as is shewn by 

 beds of marine shells found in the neighbourhood, 

 it is not probable that this ever was the case since 

 man inhabited the country, and that the tradition 

 arose from its being obvious even to the natives that 

 such must once have been the case. It is probable 

 that the visits of some race of Chinese to this coun- 

 try took place at very early periods, for we were 

 informed there were respectable Chinese families in 

 Sourabaya, whose records were continuous for more 

 than 300 years, and gave evidence of their being 

 settled there for that time at least. 



We were joined at dinner by a young Dutch 

 engineer who was superintending some large works 

 on the Kediri close by, and spent a very pleasant 

 evening. In the course of conversation it was men- 

 tioned that a Dutch clergyman comes once a year 

 from Sourabaya to Majokerto to perform service, 

 and marry and baptize those who may require it, 



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