CHAPTER IY 
THE DUTCH EAST INDIES 
1. Extent and Importance. 
Almost all the groups south of the Philippines—extend¬ 
ing from Pulo Mas on the west of Sumatra to the Aru 
Islands near Hew Guinea, a distance of nearly 2500 
geographical miles—are comprised in the Dutch Colonies, 
forming altogether a state nearly twelve times the size of 
England, with a population of over 30,000,000, abound¬ 
ing in gold, tin, diamonds, pearls, coal, and salt, and pro¬ 
ducing pepper, cinnamon, tea, coffee, rice, tobacco, sugar, 
camphor, and spices. The actual land area is estimated 
at 562,540 square miles. Thus, these Dutch possessions 
rank next in importance to the British Empire in Asia, 
and their trade with the home country amounts to at 
least one-half of that carried on between the East Indies 
and England. The total value of the exports in 1890 
amounted to £14,657,975, while the floating capital of 
this trade can scarcely be estimated at less than 
£25,000,000. Of all these great possessions the most 
important by far is the island of Java, It is intersected 
in every direction with railways and telegraphs, has been 
for centuries the seat of civilisation, and is as well known 
as most European countries. 
H 
