152 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
But if native life is much the same in Netherlands 
India as it is in our own Eastern possessions, the man¬ 
ners and customs of the Europeans show little similarity 
with those of the English in India. “ Coelum non ani- 
mum mutant ” is less true of the Dutch than of our¬ 
selves, and there is more of England in India and the 
Straits than of Holland in Java. The inordinate length 
of service without furlough which the officials of the 
Netherlands India have to endure partly explains this, 
and it is partly due to many, both of this and the mer¬ 
chant class, making the island their permanent home. 
At Buitenzorg and in Weltevreden they are within reach 
of a wide social circle, and in command of every comfort 
of modern civilisation. The skies are kinder, and the 
exigencies of fashion less strict than at home. In most 
parts of the East Indian Archipelago the Dutch ladies 
adopt the native dress in the morning—a silk sarong or 
petticoat, a loose lace-edged linen jacket (the kibaya), and 
a pair of gold-embroidered slippers, and in this costume 
walk about or take their customary morning drive. In 
the morning and late afternoon the merchant or official 
devotes himself to business, the midday hours being 
given up to the siesta. The midday meal or rijsttafel cor¬ 
responds to the French cUjeiXner , and consists largely of 
curry dishes, for which Java and the Moluccas are cele¬ 
brated. Business over, the Dutchman seeks the “ Har¬ 
monies or club, drinks his pijtje , and plays a game of 
billiards or cards. Games demanding much exertion and 
sports do not find much favour in his eyes, albeit he has 
a taste for horse flesh, breeds most wonderful little 
ponies, and is always riding or driving. Afternoon calls 
are generally paid during the hour before late dinner, 
and if of a ceremonial nature, custom ordains that the 
gentleman must wear a black tail-coat, and at least 
