The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-10-11
The Island of Java.

ant IN the Indian ArcnlpelagO, III
commercial point of view, is situated
between latitude five { ,rees fifty-two
minutes and eight degrees south, and
longitude 105 degrees eleven min
utes and ia degrees, thirty-eight
minutes east. The Sea of Java separ-
ates it from Borneo ON the north and
the Strait of Sunda from Sumatra on
the west On the east for more than
1000 miles is q chain of small islands,
and ON the south the Indian Ocean.
The island is 666 miles in length and
from fifty-six to 1851 wide, embracing
an area of 40, 1917 square miles. 1t is
exceeded in size only by Borneo, Sum-
atra and Celebes In the Archipelago.
One of the chief volcanic belts of the
world passes through the entire length
of the Indian Archipelago, and a crlrv
ing line marked out by hundreds of eX-
tinct and active volcanoes is traced
through the entire length of Sumatra,
Java, and thence by way of the smaller
islands of Bali, Lombock, Sumbawa,
Flores, the Serwatty Islands, Banda,
Amboyna, Batchian, Makian, Tidore,
Ternate and Gilolo to Morty Island.
Then breaking about 200 miles to the
westward the belt again appears in
North Celebes, and passes by Siam and
Sanguir to the PHILIPPINE Islands.
The greater part of Java is of vol
canic origin, though on the south side
there are steep cliffs extending deep
into the sea that are of limestone and
coral formation Two ranges of mount
aims extend throughout the length of
the island, the greater, which is near
the center, comprising peaks that rise
from 1000 to $4,000 feet above the sea.
The range near the southern coast con-
tains peaks from 5000 to 5000 feet in
height. In the southern range is the
Tenger volcano, or Genung Tenger,
which has taken part in the volcanic
disturbances of the past few days. The
Tenger is 5000 feet in height, and con-
tains the most extensive crater in the
world, with the possible exception of
the crater of Kilauea, on the Hawaiian
Islands. The crater is | ZOO feet below
the extreme top of the mountain, and
is of an elliptical shape, being four and
half by three and half miles in diam
eter. Tenger is situated in the east part
Of the island. The surface of the crater
is composed of a fine sand, and is called
by the natives Laut PaSar, or ''sandy
sea- Three cones, each about 10C
feet in height, rise from the surface OF
sand, one of which is in q constantly
active state.
The volcano of Papandayang, also in
the. southern range, in 1772 became
active and destroyed forty native villages
and 5000 people, spreading ashes and
scorie over radius of seven miles, in
many places to a depth of fifty feet
The entire mountain finally subsidized
and in its place was formed an extern.
siye lake. On the 9Th of July the vol
cano of Ganunggong, few miles
northeast of Papandayang, broke out
in fury and destroyed nearly everything
within radius of twenty miles. Or
the 18th of the same month another
eruption took place, which proved fata'
to 10000 people. June 10, 1867, al
earthquake caused the loss of about 30C
lives and vast amount of property in
several of the residences, especially il
Djokjokarta.
The lowlands of the island are en-
numbered by many small mud volca
noes that send forth mud, muriate o.
soda and carbonic acid gas. A feature
of all active volcanoes in this region i.
the quantity of sulphur that forms il
crystals and powder about the craters
and the impregnation of the atmosphere
with carbonic acid gas that is fatal alike
to man and all animate life. An ex
tinct volcano near Batar, called Guevo
Upas, or Vale of Poison, is half milt
in diameter, and is so strongly impreg
mated with carbonic acid gas tina
animals, birds and insects tall to thu
ground. and die from its baleful effects
From this vale and poisonous gas aros,
the legend of the Upas tree, who's,
aroma was saidto be fatally destruetiv'
to life.
Earthquakes in this region are o
frequent occurrence, scarcely month
passing that slight shocks are not fell
in some part of the vast system. II
many of the islands chronological event,
are recorded from certain great dis
turbances of the earth. Most of thu
earthquake shocks are slight, bu
scarcely a year passes that one does no
occur that shakes down one or more
native villages, destroying many lives
In the latter part of the thirteenth
century the renowned traveller Marco
Polo, while passing from China to tn,
Persian Gulf, heard marvellous stories
regarding the island of Java, or Giana
as he called it. He did not make
visit to the island, and the frs
European who set foot thereon ant
described it from personal observation
was Ludovico Barthema, who remained
there fourteen days in the early part o
the sixteenth century. In 1511 the Por
tuguese visited Bantam, and during TIN
greater part of the century claimed tn
island by virtue of discovery. Thei
claim was opposed by the natives ant
in 1896 the Dutch, under Houtman, ar
rived off Bantam, and finding wa
raging between the Portuguese ant
natives, offered their services to the lat
ter, on condition that they could estab
lish a trading post for the purchase O
pepper, then the only commodity of ex
port.
The English sent a feet into the Eas
Indies in 1902, and also established :
post at Bantam, which they held unit
1888, when they withdrew In 1911
the Dutch built a fort at the native vii
1aop of .Iocafrn which thav mama or