MALAYSIA 



981 



Malacca and the Straits of Sunda separate Sumatra from Asia and Java ; the latter is the 

 common route for ships from the Indian Ocean into ihe Sea of Java, which Hes between Java 

 and Borneo, and from which the Banca Straits, between Banca and BilHton, and Billiton 

 Straits, or Carimala Passage, between Bilhton and Borneo, lead into the Chinese Sea. Bali 

 Straits, east of Java, and Lombock Straits, between Bali and Lombock islands, form passages 

 into the broad channel between Borneo and Celebes, called the Straits of Macassar ; north 

 of the latter island is the Sooloo Sea, and between the Sooloo Island and Palawan is the Jl/zji- 

 doro Sea. The Molucca Passage, between Celebes and Gilolo, and Gilolo Pass, between 

 Gilolo and Wageoo, are channels leading from the Pacific into a spacious sea, extending from 

 Timorlant to Celebes, called the Sea oj Banda, or the Moluccas Sea. 



4. Sumatra. Sumatra, separated from Java by ihe Straits of Sunda, is a large island, 80C 

 miles in length by 170 in breadth, with an area of 136,000 square miles. It is traversed 

 through its whole length by a lofty range of mountains, reaching to an elevation of 15,000 feet ; 

 Mount Ophir, directly under the equator, is 13,800 feet high. This chain contains 5 volca- 

 noes in constant activity. Sumatra is in part occupied by independent native powers, and in 

 part by the Dutch. 



The kingdom of Achccn is in the northern part of the island ; it is now much reduced, but 

 m the 16th and 17th centuries it included a great part of the island, and of the peninsula of 

 Malacca. At that time, the commercial relations of the Acheenese extended from Japan to 

 Arabia, and their marine consisted of 500 vessels; they are still among the best navigators and 

 most commercial people of this quarter of the globe. Acheen, the capital, is a large town, in a 

 fertile and well-cultivated district ; the town itself stands in the midst of a thick forest of cocoa 

 trees, bamboos, and bananas, upon low ground, which is liable to be inundated, and most of the 

 houses are constructed of bamboo, and raised upon piles several feet from the ground. Popu- 

 lation, about 30,000. 



The kingdom of Siak, inhabited by piratical Malays, and the country of the Ballas, occu- 

 pied by a confederation of independent Batta chiefs, lie to the south of Acheen. The rest ot 

 the island belongs to the Dutch. Padang, an important commercial town, with 10,000 in- 

 habitants, Bencoolen, 10,000, and Palcmbang, on the eastern coast, with 25,000 inhabitants, 

 are the chief places within their jurisdiction. Opposite to Palembang is the island of Banca, 

 noted for its tin mines, and with Billiton, [ovmm^ a distinct province. On the southwestern 

 side are Engano, the Poggij isles, JS'yas, Bali, &c. 



5. Java. Java, one of the most populous and flourishing countries 



entirely to the Dutch. 



having 



in this region, belongs 

 It is 640 miles long, 

 area of 50,000 square 



by 60 wide, 



miles, and containing 4,000,000 inhabitants. A 

 high chain of mountains, containing 38 active 

 volcanoes, traverses the island. The western 

 part of the island is generally level, and capa- 

 ble of general cultivation. Here the English, 

 when they possessed the island, placed the cen 

 tre of their commerce and dominion, and here 

 is still the chief seat of the Dutch power. 

 The eastern part is mountainous and wooded, 

 and contains many beautiful and fertile valleys, 

 cultivated on the native system, this section 

 having always been occupied by powerful native 

 princes. 



Batavia, the capital of the Dutch possessions 

 Javanese. in jj^e East, and the emporium of Dutch 



commerce with China, Japan, India, and Malaysia, has a spacious and safe harbor, but the 

 town is extremely unhealthy. It contains a number of public buildings in the European style, 

 and has a population of 60,000, more than one half of which are Javanese and Chinese, and 

 about one quarter are slaves. Bantam, also in the western part of the island, was the capital 

 of all the English settlements in the Indian Archipelago, until Java was transferred to the 

 Dutch. 



Samarang, alsc built in the European style, is a place of some commerce, and contains 

 about 40,000 inliaK'tants. ■ 



