The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-02-03
Travel i'm Java.

The roads in all parts of Java are of
very best-well constructed origin
y, and most carefully maintained
ce. They were brought into their
sent state of perfection by one of
old governor-generals sent out from
Hand, Jan Pieterzoon Coen. He re-
red a certain extent of road to be
hstructed within a given time, and if
task had not been completed to his
isfaction when he next visited the
zee, report says that the native chiefs
the district paid for their deficiencies
being hanged on the nearest tree.
tn such summary justice, it is not to
wondered at that the roads in Java
far superior to many a one under
jurisdiction of some English high
" board. Whether Governor Coen
5 been belied or not it is difficult to
but a monument to his memory on
/ Waterloo Plain in Batavia shows
1t, if he was terror to the natives,
is still held in honor by the Dutch.
topical scenery is not at its best when
lveling on a high road, but still
ere was much to interest one as mile
er mile of our journey was quickly
(versed. Bright pink water-lilies
bid be seen growing at the roadside
mphed lotus, nymphed rubrd-the lat
peculiar to the East Indies, where
was discovered at the beginning of
E present century. Long avenues
fine tamarind trees occasionally lined
road, forming a pleasant shelter
pm the burning sun as we passed be-
ath. Here and there grew the i'm
ense tree-so common in Java--called
G waringin, whilst in every direction
uld be seen the beautiful cocoanut-
Inns and the graceful banyans. Two
Purs and half after leaving Batavia
reached a little town called Tanger-
(g. AS we had here passed from one
sidency Cor county, to another, we
ere not allowed to travel on with
1t entering our names in an official
gister provided for the purpose. This
emed very much like needless curl
Iity, which ought not to be encour-
sed, and | can only hope that in the
[egible name of a traveller who de-
ribbed himself that day as "Angli-
linus Sacerdos," travelling from " Lon
bn" to Australia " by the some
hat circuitous route of Tangerang, the
bvernment resident gained all the in
SrmatiOn he required. Apropos of this
lpionage may mention that no En-
ishman who lands in Java is allowed
remain more than forty-eight hours
|ithout obtaining the written permits
on of the Dutch authorities. Oul
kpid posting was at length brought tc
sudden check at small kampone
|amed Onderandier by an intervening
liver called the Pontang. Here oul
|onies were taken out, and crowd OF
|atives surrounded the carriage, prepar
hg to ferry it across. Native labor il
10Th cheap and plentiful all over Java
Fnd it was not surprising, therefore, t.
Ind that it took the united eXertions O.
10 less than fifteen coolies to lower the
|hrriage down the sloping road to the
erry-boat. The mode of working i
cross is somewhat peculiar. A strong
|limbing plant, known as the rattan
|alm, is joined together and stretched
cross the wide river, and forms cheal
|ubstitute for rope or chain. 1t seldom
freaks, and can be renewed as often as
|equired from the trees on the adjacen
banks. Half an hours delay here, ant
Ne were again off. AT length, fifty
light paalen from Batavia, we drew VI
|arly in the afternoon at the hotel al
Berang, and after luncheon prepared t.
Fisit some of the ruined districts. We
we're now in the residency of Bantam
district which gives its name to th'
celebrated breed of fowls with which
most of us are familiar. Bantam is thu
most ancient of the settled districts il
|he island, the Portuguese havin
Formed settlement there in 1924. l
was not until seventy years later tina
Fhe Dutch arrived upon the scene an
Founded their new home in BANTAM
hnd Batavia. The Portuguese had nc
been long in the island when they ha
their first experience of a volcani
Eruption. Mount Ringgit, in Easter
Java, broke out in 1886, and one of thei
settlements was completely destroyed
THE Leisure Hour.