A RAMBLE IN JAVA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5014, 28 July 1894, Page 2

A RAMBLE IN JAVA.

Harper's Magazine for May contains a very interesting description by Mr F. M. Burr of & " Little Journey in Java," whioh haa the merit of freshness, for very little has. been written about Java since Mr Alfred Wallace published his volume on the Malay Archipelago some thirty years ■go. A POISONED PARADISE. Notwithstanding its reputation its reputation of being one of the most unhealthy towns in the world, Batavia, the Capital of the Archipelago, is wonderfully attractive. . Its natural beauties are almost beyond description ; and, indeed, in this favoured land everything is pictnxesque. In the mountainous regions the scenery, is a never-ending lonrce of delight, and the luxuriant vegetation gives softness and beauty to the lofty volcanic peaks. The volcano of Tangkoabanprahoe, near Bandong, is up- 1 wards of 8000 ft in height, and yet it is clothed to the very summit with dense and varied foliage. There are ferns growing i by the roadside reaching to fifteen or twenty feet iv height, and these gigantic plants are really trees with the same habit of growth as the smallest and moßt delicate ferns of our own clime. ■ ' A NATION OF PIGMIES. «'Ab we advanced further inland," continues Mr Burr, "the scenery became more 'and more attractive. The deep, sequestered valleys, with their wonderful growth, of palms, bananas, coffee-trees, tea-plants, pineapples and myriads of strange and interesting Bhruhs, are like visions of fairyland.. Indeed, our daily experience seemed like a dream. The small, childlike people, with thoir quiet, deferential manner and scanty clothing certainly belonged to a different realm from this commonplace world of ourß. Java is. the only country it has been our fortune -to visit where the people eank down in the dust of the roadside as we passed. Men carrying heavy burdens on their shoulders turned on hearing the sound of wheels* and, seeing who was coming, immediately squatted down in the aso»t deferential manner. Sitting on your heels.' fa. the proper position .to assume in fchis country in the presence of a superior.?' ■ \- ■■ JAVANESE DRESS. t. The climate of the interior of the island ?fs as near perfection as possible. The .^never-ending summer makers an elaborate J* 1 toilet <juit9 unnecessary : — "In the country 'districts .men and women alike usually wear only one article of clothing, a sort of petticoat, fastened tight around the waist by the men and just, above the breast by the women. Some of thewomen adopt the style of the men aa giving greater coolness and freedom. In the neighbourhood of 4 the towns they generally add an upper garment made somewhat in the style of a close *■ fitting night-gown, and either fastened in \ front or nor, according to the taste of the J wearer. These little brown cherubs, with \ rounded bodies and well-formed limbs, took like bronze statues as they stand in tile bright sunshine gazing curiously at the passing strangers." At tho beginning of the presont century the population was about 3,500,000 ; in 1850 it had increased to 9,500.000; in 1865 ;he ceneus showed 14,163,416, a remarkable acreage; and in 1891 the inhabitantsnumjered 23,000,000, and it chould be rememjer^.^lhat the island of Java is only 60C iiiesiohg and from 60 to 120 wide.