104 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
Polo, who passed through the archipelago in about 
1290, makes mention of it by name, he did not visit 
it, and Ludovic Yarthema, the Italian traveller, was 
probably the first European to land upon its shores, 
in 1505. 
The taking of Malacca by Albuquerque in 1511 
brought the Portuguese in close proximity to Java, and 
Antonio d’Abreu’s fleet, despatched to the Spice Islands a 
month or two later, coasted its shores and passed through 
the narrow straits dividing it from Madura. But in spite 
of its known richness the Moluccas were considered to 
offer greater advantages, and dAJbreu did not attempt to 
open negotiations with the people, although he touched 
at Aga^im, the present Gressi. The Portuguese, indeed, 
never established themselves upon the island, and had 
only a few trading posts upon its coasts. So little was 
it known, that fifty-two years after the taking of Malacca 
it was described by Barros as consisting of two islands. 
The Dutch landed for the first time in 1595 under Hout- 
man, and in 1610 built a fort at Batavia, which, nine 
years later, the English helped the natives to take, but 
on its being relieved by the Dutch fleet the assailants 
retired. It was not until 1677 that any territorial 
acquisition was made, the principality of Jacatra being 
then ceded. Erom that time up to 1830 the Dutch 
have been engaged in five great wars, lasting from 
five to fifteen years each, but all ending in important 
acquisitions of territory. The last was the final effort 
of the natives, and Java is now securely in the hands 
of Holland. 
The British temporarily occupied Java for the five 
years from 1811 to 1816, a period which will always be 
remembered for the energetic, though not altogether 
successful, administration of Sir Stamford Raffles. 
