1832.] 
ISLAND OF JAVA. 
301 
gerang, which is the boundary of the kingdom of Bantam; while 
to the south of the city, they are scattered over a distance of forty 
or fifty miles. 
The village of Buitenzorg, on the Jacatra road, is about five 
miles northeast of Mount Salak, which is more than half way 
across the island, from Batavia on the north, to Wyn Cooper's 
Bay on the south. It was formerly an active volcano, and its 
last eruption was in seventeen hundred and sixty-one. The" 
southeastern foot of Mount Salak is connected with Mount Gede,, 
over the northeastern Hmb of which the great road was originally 
made. This laborious pass, however, occasioned great delay and 
inconvenience to the passengers, which induced Governor Daen- 
dels to project the new road, along the lowlands, from Batavia to 
Cheribon, by which the former inequahties are all avoided, and a 
distance saved of fifty miles. The route is now so level that it 
might be converted into a railroad, or be accompanied with a 
canal by the side of it.* 
Mount Salak and Mount Gede are plainly to be seen from the 
shipping in Batavia Roads ; and from the appearance they exhibit^ 
are usually termed the Blue Mountains, where the Jacatra takes- 
its rise, about sixty miles south of Batavia. Near the village of 
Buitenzorg are the celebrated ruins of the ancient capital of 
Pajajaran, among which, several curious antiquities have been: 
found. This city, according to Javanese tradition, was founded 
about the year thirteen hundred, and soon became the capital of 
the kingdom and seat of the royal coiirt. It was overthrown by 
the Mahommedans, in their conquest of Java, and many of the 
inhabitants fled to Cheribon. Among the curious relics which 
have been discovered among its ruins, were several rude images 
and inscriptions on stone. Sir Thomas Raffles mentions, also, an 
ancient manuscript, a copy of which he took home to England, 
containing drawings of pagan deities, the twelve signs of the 
zodiac, and numerous other astronomical (or astrological) devices. 
* This line of roads now extends from; Anyer, on the west side of Bantam,- to 
Batavia, from thence to Cheribon, and thence to within twenty miles of Banyu*- 
wangi, the eastern extremity of the island, being a distance of not less than eight 
hundred statute miles. But we regret to add, that twelve thousand natives are said 
to have perished in the construction of this great work, from the unhealthiness 
of marshes and forests through which it passed ! 
