The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-05

| atoms of beauty which shall cheer the dropping
| Christian, and strengthen holy men in their con
| ffcts with the powers of darkness.
Oriental Life.
THE LECTURE OF DR.. BETrNRR, AT HOPE CHAPEL
On Wednesday, 10Th ult., DR.. Bettner delivered,
at Hope Chapel, his first lecture on Oriental life
in which be principally confned himself to gene
raj description of the island Of Java. Considering
the merit and interest Of the lecture, must say
that the audience in attendance was but poor. DR..
Bettner commenced by remarking that, while the
western hemisphere has been almost wholly ex-
plored, the eastern world is, comparatively speak
Ing, remote and unknown. We know but little
about the island of Java, and the little information
We obtain Is often very incorrect The distance
OF the island from this is about thirteen thousand
miles II very difficult, on arriving there, to OBJ
tain information. The Europeans there are in
state OF apathy, and information can only be had
BY mixing among the people. The eastern he MI
sphere presents to us new heavens and new earth.
There we observe greater number than we have
OF stars OF the first and second magnitude, which
imparts to the ornament an extraordinary degree
OF eulgence, and IL Is therefore not very astonsh-
ing that the Orentals have devoted themselves to
the study of astronomy with so much prediction
pleasant and easy. On journeying towards the
EQUATOR yeu gradually lose sight OF the north star,
while towards the south pole, consultations of
dazzling brightness present themselves to the gaze
VI tHC s5tOhlSucu IL sCcuiS vi ~ INC COu-
stelations were known in Europe before we re-
ceived their descriptions from the Spanish naviga.
tors. There are also two different kinds OF clouds
visible, which are never seen here. They con-
slanty maintain the same shape and posi- ion in
the heavens. The leland Of Java lies south of
Bomeo, and is separated from Samatra by the
Strait of Sunda. II is about seven inbred miles
long, and one hundred and fifty broad. The popu-
Of trade on the eastern waters sGaVoy SggHSlg "
Java, the frst arrival is al the town Anita. After
passing the Strait Of Sunda the FIRST land visible is
a promontory called the Java Head, and which Is
very conspicuous. Proceeding further, you
several minor towns, and ultimately reach Batavia,
the capital Of the island. The harbor is very spa
cious. There are sharks and allgators, whose
numbers great that il is quite impossible TO
extiDgush them. There are no wharves, and in
going ashore you pass theee sharks and allgators
to upset the canoes. Batavia is a Dutch city, in
tersected by numerous canals. The streets are
wide, and ornamented by rows OF shade trees. its
population is about one hundred thousand. Every
nation alrnoet Is represented there-the Europeans.
the Javanese, the Hindoos, the Armenians, the
Chinese, the Japanese, &c, are ell commingllng
in Batavia, Each nation, or tribe, has a certain
portion OF the city TO live In. The Hindoos are
dark, or rather blush black, and their features
prominent, mild, and progressing. Their coz
tune contrasts greatly with their physical ap.
pearance, by using white clothes. The Armenisns
in Turkey and partly IN Persia. They are intelli-
gent, progressing, and very commercial. Their
costume is also somewhat singular. With re-
ference 10 the time IN Java, there IL the wet and
dry seasons. In consequence OF the extreme heat,
the people constantly ride when they go out, and
are obliged TO change their dresses very frequently
The interior Of the Island is much salubrious.
There are numerous hills, long plains, and bsauii.
ful valleys, in very high state Of cultivation.
Batavia Is very unhs slthy, and particularly so TO
European and American constitutions. He said,
that in PERIOD OF only twenty-five years, there
were in the city of Batavia alone, more than mil
lion OF deaths There 10 no intermssion OF heat,
as il alec continues in the city during the night.
The Enropt ans transact their business during the
day time, and then remove 90 their residences in
the country The night N these re gons IS one OF
the most sublissc spectacles that can be imagined
The moonlight is go bright that there is n 81 the
slishtest difficulty in reading any kind Of print.
The amount Of electric filid IN the air Is come
times SO great that you see nothing but con.
slantly flash upon flash, peal upon peal, and
hear the echo "a II is rebounded from the
hills OF Java, and dies away in the distance.
The most OF the people are entirely 10 state Of
nudity, with the exception OF the loins. Their limbs
ere beautifully formed The ladies are very dgni-
fed, and their manners modest as those OF Euro
pesns. The natives, when in dress, have two
kinds, which chiefly consists Of loose piece of
cloth wrapt round the body. Men and women wear
their hair long. They also wear combs, which.
however, are placed IN front and not behind, as 10
the case here, They also have custom Of tau
nUg and blacking their teeth with preparation OBJ
tanned from nut and leaf Of a Ger am tree.
They consider il a disgrace 10 have white
teeth, like dog or monkey. They also
pay great attention TO cleanliness. They fire.
quently wash themselves, and as frequently oil
their bodies. They chew almost constantly They
seldom wear weapons none but the MslAit, Ja-
panese, and Javanese are armed. With respect TO
the smusements Of the Japanese there is not great
variety They generally hold their fairs, which
are very entertaining, and at which gambling and
I'D Thr,r Of 40 a
pecuiar-their movements being much slower
than ours. They are very fond Of music, and have
great number OF beautiful and touching melodies.
The Iavanesc are very abstemious, but very fond
Of sweet meats--an observation which is very cha
rsctenstIc of all the orientals. They 80 milk,
but use kind Of salt lard along with their rice,
lie then gave description OF European dinner IN
that island Every guest has TO bring his own SER
vent. The servants come at an early hour
10 assist IN preparing the dinner; no leryaat
will wait on more than one person. There
Is always a fresh current OF air produced
by the swinging a sort OF fan The guests
ore also obliged TO put on Mosquito boots,
which are kind Of Logging, IN consequence Of the
mosquitoes and other insects. The dinner is in the
isInch syl At the conclusion Of the repast there
exc,IleS, SPLENDID dessert, furnished with all the
twilight i vtwhich that island abounds in. The
proximate position hQrt, IN consequences OF the
There ere no public lamls STAND TO the equator.
one carries his own lantern with iely' oei every
sents rather curious and novel scene. fRSn pre-
paih, wv smu NJ gave uescrpuOn OF one that ne
attended They have BARRIERS, whose Off &c 4
Principally confined to shaving the head Wbis-
hers are not worn. They also employ what are
called "ear pckers," which Is considered as
source Of luxury and pleasure by the freques, u.e
o. these esrpickers the ympsnsm OF the ear I,
liable TO be injured They have also a hind ~
sbsmpooing, which " luxurious and erpensiye
enjoyment, and which IL performed by young girls.
who, with the points OF their delicate necss tao all
over the body Of the individual, until he falls into
deep sIumber. The Javancse have two kinds AZ
rosds-the buffalo and TIE express rsad-ssI they