Java
an island of the Dutch East Indies; between St. Nicholas Point and South Cape S., and is washed on the N. by the Sea of Java, on the E. by the Strait of Bali, on the S. by the Indian Ocean, and on the W. by Sunda Strait; extends almost due W. and E. The extreme length is about 600 miles, the breadth 40 to 125 miles, the superficial area about 49,000 square miles, pop. about 35,000,000. Batavia, the capital had a pop. of about 230,000. The coast line is not much developed; a few large bays, bays, protected by islands, furnish safe for vessels. From end to end of the island there is a mountain chain, named Gunung Kendang, and, especially in the W. part of the island, several parallel shorter chains. There are 43 volcanoes, several of which are still active. The rivers are generally small, but become torrents when swollen by rain; only a few of them are navigable. by The climate depends on the altitude; it rather hot and unhealthy on the coast, but pleasant in the hills.
The natives belong to the Malay race.
The Madurese, in the E. part of the is land, the Sundanese, living in the W. part, and the Javanese proper differ in phyin language. Most of them are Mohammedans, at least in name, for much of the belief of their ancestors sur- Islamism that is now practiced. A few tribes, however, profess the old religion (viz., the Baduwis in Heathen" of the Tengger Mountains). The native Christians number about 12,000 , and the Chinese Christians a few hundred. The inhabitants are more civilized than those of the other islands of the archipelago. There are 39 Dutch Protestant and 21 Roman for the whole of the JAXARTES Dutch East Indies, besides those who are working among the natives. Every form of religious belief is free, but proselytizing is strictly prohibited. its luxuriant vegetation, though the pro- The chief wealth of Java consists in duction power seems to be now a little exhausted , at least to judge from the many diseases by which the plantations have been visited of late. The animal kingdom is not very rich; tigers, rhindeer, and wild swine are the chief representatives of the quadrupeds; there are only a few birds that are conspicuous for ous for their plumage. Several species (some venomous) and crocodiles are found on the island. back to the beginning of the 5th century.
The earliest historical references date In A. D. 412 Fa -Hien visited Hindu colonies in Java.
About the year 800 the appears to have become more important. intercourse of the Hindus with the island In 1808 the kingdom of Bantam was incorporated with the Dutch possessions; but these in 1811 became part of the French empire . In the same year Java was occupied by the English, and reshort time after the Dutch had resumed mained in their hands up to 1817. A possession of Java an insurrection burst out in Jokjakarta in 1825 under Dipa and the struggle lasted till 1830, when the chief of the rebels submitted to the Dutch authorities. ing into the S. part of the Amazon and forming the boundary between Brazil and Peru. It is navigable throughout