ports, both by water and land-carriage, as good roads and navigable streams intersect each other throughout the island in many and various directions. Bazaars, or public markets, are established at convenient sites in every district, and are held several times a week. At these markets, which in Europe would be called fairs, are frequently assembled some thousands of people, chiefly of the softer sex, on whom devolves the duty-would it were not so of conveying thither the various productions of the country. Sheds, shanties, and other temporary coverings of bamboo or thatch, are generally prepared for the accommodation of the people, to protect them from the rays of the sun. Re freshments of every kind, including victuals ready cooked, and comprising most of the fruits and vegetables of the country, occupy a considerable space in the fair, and find a ready sale.

There are many articles imported into Java from other islands in the Archipelago, among which are—camphire, tortoise-shell, edible birds'-nests, biche de mer, bees'-wax, and gold-dust. These are exchanged for opium, iron, steel, tobacco, rice, salt, European and India goods, &c. Here are also collected, at the principal ports, for re-exportation, Banca tin, gold-dust, diamonds, camphire, gumbenjamin, and other drugs, birds'-nests, biche de mer, rattans, bees'wax, tortoise-shell, dying woods, sandal-wood, nutmegs, cloves, maçe, and other spices.

The government of the Javans, when administered on its origi nal principles, is a pure, unmixed, and absolute despotism. The sovereign, or sultan, appoints subordinate and delegated governors to preside over the several provinces; and these, like their master, though tenacious of power, are ever willing to surrender it for ease and pleasure. Their prime minister, or vizier, is the actual ruler of the country, while the sultan is satisfied with flattery, pomp, and the seraglio. The same remark will apply to the provincial governors, who all have their subordinates on a small scale. The people and the soil are in fact the property of the sovereign, but his right in this respect is not generally exercised; and there are customs of the country, of which the people are very tenacious, and which the sultan seldom invades. Yet he being considered as the sole proprietor of the soil, all lands are held of him, under the tenure of military service, and a certain proportion of their

produce. But since the sultan and his delegates are all more or less subordinate to the Dutch colonial government, the cultivators of the soil are made to feel the evil of a multiplicity of masters. The several chiefs not only oblige the peasantry to cultivate particular articles suitable for exportation, but take from them such portion of the produce as will not only liquidate their own tribute, but also meet the terms of their agreement with the Dutch. Formerly they exacted one half of the produce, by way of rent, but they are now said to demand at least two thirds of the crop. Pepper and coffee are the two principal articles that are required to be cultivated, as best suiting the purpose of the Dutch, to whom they are delivered by the Javanese princes at a low rate. The doctrines of the Koran are the laws of the land; while the executive and judicial powers are exercised by the same individual.

Since the whole island has submitted to the Dutch supremacy, the military spirit which formerly characterized the Javans has gradually subsided. By the existing treaties between the Dutch and the native princes, the latter are restricted to the number of troops which they may maintain. Those of the sultan are limited to a body-guard of one thousand men. Such further number as may be requisite for the tranquillity of the country, the European government undertakes to furnish. Before the sultan was under this restriction, he used to raise such force as he wanted by a requisition upon the government of each province, for a specified quota; in the same manner as the President of the United States calls on the several states when the militia are required to act in the defence of the nation. Thus, in a country like Java, where every man wears a kris, or dagger, and where the spear or pike is the principal military weapon, an army was easily collected in a few days. The gatherings of the Highland clans in Scotland were never effected with much greater facility.

The naval power of the Javans was at one period quite formidable. Previous to the arrival of the Dutch, warlike expeditions, consisting of many hundred vessels, are often reported to have been fitted out against Borneo, Sumatra, and the peninsula. But the sun of her naval glory is eclipsed.

Of the literature of the Javans, our limits will not permit us

to say much. Like most of the orientals, they think in poetry, and consequently cannot fail to speak and act it. Their progress in the fine arts has been limited and retarded by obvious circumstances; but with proper culture, Heaven has endowed them with sufficient mental faculties for any thing. Our allotted course, however, compels us to leave this interesting people, and pay our respects to the citizens of civilized Batavia.

CHAPTER XVI.

Bay and City of Batavia-Former Commerce, Wealth, and Magnificence-Unexpected Reverses-Description of the City-Cause of its Unhealthiness—Improvements by Marshal Daendels-Beauty of the Environs-Villas and RoadsBlue Mountains-Village of Buitenzorg-Ruins of Pajajaran-Population of Batavia-Number and Condition of the Slaves-Chinese Industry and FestivalsBalians, Javans, and other Classes-Dutch Population-Frightful Mortality— Health of the City improved-Biographical Sketch of Daendels-European Provinces of Java-Native Provinces-Total Population-Face and Appearance of the Country-Mountains, Volcanoes, and Minerals-Rivers, Climate, Soil, and vegetable Productions-The Bohun Upas-Origin of the Fable-Poison made from the Sap of the Anchar-Animal Productions-Commerce, Revenue, and Political State of the Country.

THE city of Batavia stands at the head of the spacious bay in which the Potomac now lay at anchor; the numerous islands by which the shipping is sheltered, rendering it one of the finest harbours in the world. It is a remarkable fact, that during the long period it has been in the possession of the Dutch, not a vessel has ever been lost in the roads. The capacity of Batavia Bay is sufficient to contain almost any number of vessels; and its waters have often supported, at one time, an almost impenetrable forest of foreign masts. The principal islands that surround it are those which bear the names of Onrust, Purmerent, Kuiper, and Edam; most of which are clothed with trees. On the first are the naval arsenal, dock-yard, storehouses, saw-mills, and workshops of the artificers. This is the great marine depot, where ships, when they require repairs, are hove down by cranes erected on the wharves. It is a busy, bustling place, and abounds with inhabitants.

Batavia, as before mentioned, was founded in the year sixteen hundred and nineteen, and rose rapidly into importance on account of its excellent harbour, and its advantageous position for European and oriental commerce. Nor was it without reason that the Dutch selected this spot for the capital of their new empire in the east. In adverting to this subject, Adam Smith thus expresses himself:-"What the Cape of Good Hope is between Europe

and every part of the East Indies, Batavia is between the principal countries of the East Indies. It lies upon the most frequented road from Hindostan to China and Japan, and is nearly about midway on that road. Almost all the ships, too, that sail between Europe and China, touch at Batavia; and it is, over and above all this, the centre and principal resort of what is called the country trade of the East Indies; not only of that part of it which is carried on by Europeans, but of that which is carried on by the native Indians; and vessels navigated by the inhabitants of China and Japan, of Tonquin, of Malacca, of Cochin China, and the Island of Celebes, are frequently to be seen in its port. Such advantageous situations have enabled these two colonies to surmount all the obstacles which the oppressive genius of an exclusive company may have occasionally opposed to their growth; they have enabled Batavia to surmount the additional disadvantage of, perhaps, the most unwholesome climate in the world."

During the eighteenth century, Batavia was deemed the finest European settlement in all Asia; and although justly considered unhealthy, from circumstances purely local, its wealth, trade, and commercial splendour procured for it the titles of "Queen of the East," and the "Tyre of the Oriental Archipelago." It was doubtless at the climax of its glory at the breaking out of the French revolution; and continued to retain that pre-eminence until nearly the close of the century. But the various European wars which successively grew out of, or flowed from that tremendous event, produced effects which were ultimately felt at the remotest corners of the globe.

The same extraordinary state of things which gave such an unparalleled onward impulse to the mercantile enterprise of the United States, partially paralyzed that of every foreign competitor. Those were the "golden days" of our commercial prosperity; and Columbia might have exclaimed, with Lady Macbeth

"That which hath made them drunk, hath made me bold,
What hath quenched them hath given me fire."

Batavia, however, had not very sensibly felt the effects of those devastating conflicts in seventeen hundred and ninety-three. But soon after the invasion of Holland by the French, in the beginning of seventeen hundred and ninety-five, when the stadtholder