3S9 
JAVA. 
The following is a translated copy of a letter from the Government Secretary, 
Batavia, to the Consul of the Netherlands, Sydney, re a proposal to plant Eucalyptus 
trees at Tanjong Priok, Batavia, to avert epidemics of fever on board vessels there. 
It appeared in the Sydney newspapers of 23rd November, 1887. It is a valuable 
report, although it dates from a period prior to many important discoveries as to the 
role of certain mosquitoe .;. 
Batavia, 20 October, 1887. 
The Governor-General, gratefully acknowledging the interest shown by you, nevertheless decides 
not to accept your well-meant offer to send a supply of young plants of Eucalyptus ylobulus to be planted 
at Tanjong Priok with the object of improving the sanitary condition there. All attempts to introduce 
this species of trees into this country have shown that they will only grow at an altitude of 3,000 feet and 
above. 
The Government has meanwhile planted liberally Eucalyptus alba and sunflowers in the neighbour- 
hood of the harbour, and is still continuing to do so steadily. 
Seeing that the Eucalyptus alda, however, grows and thrives only in the higher parts of Tanjong 
Priok, and loss successfully in the lower in the immediate neighbourhood of the docks, attention is being 
given to other quick-growing trees for planting there, and in particular to a species of Eucalyptus from 
the island of Flores, from which good results arc anticipated. 
Meanwhile as regards the sanitary condition of the harbour, this has been much improved since the 
time when it was first made use of, as can be shown by the favourable state, of health on board the flagship, 
which has now its fixed moorings in the outer harbour, and also on board the European and Netherlands 
India steamers, which continue to use the harbour; and, further, by the fact that the same sailing shijs 
frequently come into this harbour. 
The shore marshes undoubtedly have an unfavourable effect, but this is experienced along the 
greater part of the north coast of Java, and, as has been said, precautions have already long been taken 
.against it. 
Although, however, in sonic degree the cases of fever which occur may be attributed to the marshes, 
to a great extent the fault lies with the ships' crews themselves, who generally, by careless clothing and 
living, by sleeping on deck, by the excessive use of fruit, and by resorting to the shore with its attendant 
extravagances, frequently bring the sickness upon themselves. 
t Again, it frequently happens that the captains of vessels overwork their crews in discharging cargoes, 
not taking into consideration the effects of the climate, and paying little attention to sick men, giving them 
no medicine. 
Another source of sickness, and one easily prevented, is taking in freshly-excavated wet ballast. 
Ships which had previously no sickness on board have had many sick after their departure, caused by the 
exhalations from the ballast, the cases disappearing after the ballast was got rid of in order to load cargo. 
This source of sickness can be avoided by taking ballast not recently excavated, but which has for some 
time been exposed to the air, or by getting ballast from Batavia, as some do. Captains have it in their 
power also, if not entirely, to remove, yet in a great degree to limit, chances of sickness by seeing to a speedy 
discharge of their vessels. By present arrangements of the docks a vessel can discharge 250 to 00 tons 
a day, so that a prolonged stay can be avoided. 
From the foregoing it will appear to you that the evil reputation which some have given to Tanjong 
Priok is not deserved, and the Governo -General considers it of the utmost importance that you give as 
much publicity as possible to the foregoing, and that you will use every exertion to replace this unfavourable 
opinion by a better one. 
By bringing the above to your notice, with thanks for the interest shown by you, I have the honour 
to comply with instructions received. 
The first Government Secretary. 
(Signed) SWEERTS. 
To the Consul of the Netherlands for New South Wales, Sydney. 
