112 



JATJ. 



[cHAF. vn. 



agreeable, nod the coiintr}' so interesting, that I preferred 

 walking* Native villages imbedded in fhiit trees, and 

 pretty \allas inbabited by planters or retired Butch 

 officials, gave this distiict a very pleasing and civilizt'd 

 aspect ; but what most attracted my attention was the 

 system of terrace-cultivation, which is here universally 

 adopted, and which is, I should think, hardly equalled in 

 ::he world. Tlie slopes of the main valley, and of its 

 branches, %vere everywhere cut in terraces np to a con- 

 siderable height, and when they wound round the recesses 

 of the hiUs produced all the eilect of niagiiificenfc amphi- 

 theatres. Hundreds of square miles of country are thus 

 terraced, and convey a striking idea of the industry of the 

 people and the antiquity of their civilization. These 

 terraces are extended year by year as the population 

 increases, by the inhabitants of each village working in 

 concert under the direction of their chiefs ; aud it is 

 perhaps by this system of vilhi^e culture alone, that such 

 extensive terracing and irrigation has been rendered |K)s- 

 sible. It was probably introduced by the Urahuuns from 

 India, since in those Jlalay countries wiiere there is no 

 traje of a previous oceu[iation by a civilized people, the 

 terrace system is unknown. I first saw this mode of cul- 

 tivation in Bah and Lombock, and, as I shall have to 

 describe it in some detail there (see Chapter X.), 1 need 

 say no more about it in this place, except that, owing to 

 the finer outlines and greater luxuriance of the country 

 in West Java, it produces there the most striking and 

 picturesque elTect The lower slopes of the mountains in 

 Java possess such a delightful climate and luxuriant soil ; 

 living is so cheap and life and property ore so secure, 

 tiiat a considerable number of Europeans who have been 

 engaged in Government service, settle permanently in tlie 

 country instead of returning hi Europe. They are scat- 

 tered everywhere throughout the more accessible parts of 

 the island, aud tend greatly to the gradual improvement 

 of the native population, and to the continued peace and 

 prosperity of the whole country. 



Twenty miles beyond Buitenzorg the post road passes 

 over the Megamendong Mountain, at an elevation of about 

 4,500 feet The country is finely mountainous, and there 



