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by-west-three-quarters-west. The Reef of the Great Kombuist (Karang Poeloe Lantjang, or Karang Papedjie), on west point, fourteen feet; south point of the Great Kombuis east-southeasthalf-east; eastern point of Maneater Island southwest-three-quarters-west. The Southeast Rockt in the centre, fifteen feet; eastern point of Maneater Island south-half-west; northern point of the Great Kombuis northeast-three-quarters east; beacon on the Great Kombuis southeast-by-east-three-quarters-east.

The Potomac passed the Strait of Sunda in March, eighteen hundred and thirty two. The following is a list of the whole number of vessels which were reported at Anger, or Anjere, a village on the Java shore, as having passed the strait in the same year, viz:-Dutch, fifty-eight out, fifty-four home; English, twenty-eight out, twenty-seven home; American, twenty-nine out, twenty-nine home; French, two out, one home; Hamburgh, two out, one home; Russian, one out; Swedish, one out; Danish, one home. Total reported, two hundred and thirty-eight. This list is doubtless imperfect, as many that passed without touching at Anger could not have been reported; but it shows the great proportion of American vessels trading in these seas.

CHAPTER XV.

Java and Sumatra once connected-Origin of the name of Java-Size and location of the island—Origin of the inhabitants-Pagans and Idolaters—Java successively visited by the Siamese, Arabs, Malays, and Chinese-Arab missionaries-Conversion of the inhabitants to the Mahommedan faith-The Portuguese visit the island—The English-The Dutch at Bantam-At Batavia-The English at Bantam-Massacre of Amboyna-Dutch oppressions-Massacre of the Chinese at Batavia-Americans visit Batavia-Governor Daendel's Administration-Antiquities of JavaDescription of the Javans-Their dress-Origin of the kris-Character, habits, and manners-Early marriages-Frequent divorces-Cookery and food-Amusements Useful arts and manufactures-Houses, furniture, employments, agriculture, and commerce-Government, literature, &c,

In our description of the Strait of Sunda, in the preceding chapter, an idea was suggested that the islands of Sumatra and Java had probably once been united at some very remote period, and formed but one island. Indeed, there is a tradition recorded in the annals of Java, which says "It is related that in former times the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Sumbava were united, and afterward separated into nine different parts; and it is also said, that when three thousand rainy seasons have passed away, they will be reunited." Admitting for a moment the fact of their former union, the hypothesis might very naturally be extended still further, including in the same semicircular range the Malay Peninsula on the northwest, together with the islands on the east, including Lombok, Flores, Timor, Timorlant, Arroo, and New Guinea. By those are formed that great chain or barrier, which locks up the China Sea on the south and west, and probably once completely separated it from the great Indian Ocean. The waters of the latter have in divers places either forced or insinuated themselves through this circling arm of continental Asia, or the mighty ridge has been severed and shivered by some terrible convulsion of nature,-forming those numerous straits which are now the avenues of communication and commercial intercourse between the Atlantic ports and the Celestial Empire. Thus, that elongated portion of the broken ridge which bears the

name of Java, is washed on its western end by the Strait of Sunda, which is at one point only fourteen miles in width; and by the Strait of Bali, on its eastern extremity.

This division, or breaking up of the great eastern peninsula, is supposed by some writers to be alluded to in the book of Genesis, where the sacred penman, in his account of Noah's descendants, and their various locations in the postdiluvian world, says"And unto Eber were born two sons; the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided." Speaking of the sons of Javan, it is written-"By these were the isles of the gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." From this passage it has been inferred, that the island under consideration was named "after the family" of Jaran, or Java. That caravans of merchants once traded and held intercourse with a rich country in the east called Javan, appears from Ezekiel, who describes them as traders in "the persons of men, and vessels of brass, to the market of Tyre, and who, going to and fro, occupied in her fairs, brought bright iron [steel], cassia, and calamus." One of the sons of Javan was called Elishah; and the prophet speaks of "blue and purple from the isles of Elishah." His brother's name was Tarshish ;-"Tarshish was thy merchant by the reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they all traded in thy fairs." The brothers of Javan were called Mecheck and Tubal:-"Javan, Tubal, and Mecheck, they were thy merchants; they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass, in thy market." A nephew of Javan was called Togarmah:-"They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen, and mules."

In all these passages, some writers see, or think they see, a direct allusion to the extensive caravan-routes, formed at an early period, for conveying the fine manufactures of the east into the kingdoms of the west. Although "the embroidered work and chests of rich apparel bound with cords," mentioned by Ezekiel, are said to have been brought from depots on the banks of the Euphrates, yet it is not supposed that they were manufactured there, but drawn from more distant countries of eastern Asia; probably from the great chain of islands now under consideration. But all this is curious and amusing speculation; and we shall

leave it to those who are better versed in the subject to trace the connexion between the Javan of Holy Writ, and the Java of modern times, the location of which we now proceed to describe.

The whole Island of Java extends in a direction nearly east and west, with only a slight deviation to the north and south; its western extremity being in longitude 105° 11', and its eastern in longitude 114° 33′ east. The length of the island is about seven hundred miles, while its breadth varies from sixty to one hundred and forty miles; and it is estimated to contain an area of about fifty thousand miles, with a population of five millions; including Javans, Chinese, Arabs, Moors, Bugis, Malays, and the Dutch colonists.

The Island of Java occupies a considerable space in the history of commerce. Three centuries before the Dutch had penetrated to the east, Java had been visited by the celebrated Venetian traveller Marco Polo. Tradition says that about eight hundred years after the Christian era, a vessel was cast away on the coast of Java, while attempting to cross from Siam to the Straits of Macassar, the crew of which travelled over much of the island. These people, on their return to Siam, gave such a glowing account of the countries they had seen, that the son of the King of Siam was induced to visit Java, and soon after colonized it. Since then, many other tribes from India came and settled on it, particularly Arabs, as Marco Polo, who visited both Java and Sumatra in twelve hundred and ninety-six, mentions several of them. Another tradition says that the first inhabitants came in vessels from the Red Sea, and that in their passage they coasted along the shores. of Hundustan; that peninsula then forming an unbroken continent with the land in the Indian Archipelago. These people are supposed to have been banished from Egypt, and to have been idolaters of various descriptions.

But whatever might have been the origin of the inhabitants, it is pretty generally conceded, that they were all idolaters until about the year thirteen hundred and seventy, when the Arab missionaries came among them, and commenced the work of conversion with their usual zeal, but with less violence than had heretofore marked the rapid spread of the Mahommedan faith. They possessed a knowledge of medicine, which enabled them to effect several cures of persons of high rank, as well as many of the

common people, of dangerous and what were then considered fatal disorders. This gained them a reputation for superior and supernatural attainments, which furthered their missionary projects to the extent of their wishes.

About the year fourteen hundred and twelve, according to the Javan records, a considerable number of Chinese emigrants obtained a settlement in the island. Mild and inoffensive in their manners, and backward to resent acts of oppression, they were subject to many restrictions and exactions from which the natives were exempt. They often intermarried with the Javans, however, and thus introduced a mixed breed, which are called by the Dutch Pernakans. The Chinese still remained distinct from the natives, from whom they were distinguished by being more intelligent, more laborious, and more luxurious. They were, in fact, the life and soul of the commerce of the country. The Malays obtained a footing much earlier than the Chinese, though we cannot refer to the exact date. They were from the Malayan peninsula, which was then overrun with pirates and Arabian freebooters. These were viewed as honourable occupations, worthy of being followed by young princes and nobles. No wonder that their descendants are fond of navigation, war, plunder, emigration, adventures, and gallantry; talk incessantly of their honour and bravery, while in their habits and conduct they are the most treacherous and ferocious people on the face of the globe.

After the Portuguese had discovered a new route to India, by the Cape of Good Hope, they soon visited all the principal islands of the Indian Archipelago, for the ostensible purpose of opening a commercial intercourse with the inhabitants, but with the ulterior view of obtaining territorial jurisdiction for their sovereign in the east. Success attended their measures, though blood and desolation too often tracked their progress. In fifteen hundred and eleven, the enterprising and victorious Alphonso de Albuquerque, having conquered the city of Malacca, on the western coast of the Malay peninsula, opposite Sumatra, which island he had previously visited, sent envoys to announce to such islanders as had been in the habit of trading with Malacca, inviting them to continue their intercourse, and making liberal promises of encouragement and fair dealing. To Java he sent Antonio de Abrew, who landed, it is supposed, at Gresik, on the northeast coast, in the

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