Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-24
LIFE IN JAVA.
ATropical island Where the Inhabitants
Take Things Easy and Don't Worry.

Aahc ihihgs Easy ana Don't Worry.
Correspondence Of the Ksusas city Times.
The sail from Singapore across the equator
into the Southern TO Java is a most delight
ful one after the traveller has been tossed and
pitched about for a week or more on the rough
water OF the Gulf OF Siam. Ii Was with no lit
tie satisfaction then that on the afternoon OF
January 10 went on board one of the boats OF
the Massagaries maritime line bound for
Batavia, aud 10y o'clock was sailing toward
Java upon u sea almost a. smooth as a mill
pond and in an atmosphere as soft and agree
able as that of Cairo. IL was a beautiful MOON
light night. and as the ships pilot steered the
boat close 10 many of the islands one could
almost distinguish the varieties of palms grow
lng close down Ia the waters edge Just be-
lore midnight We crossed that unseeable line
known ar the equator, without bump or con-
fusion. and when l came on deck in the morn
ing We were sailing close up 10 the island OF
Banca. where SO large share Of the worlds
TN comes from. while a few miles distant
OF our starboard bow was the low wooded
shore OF the great island of Sumatra.
All day we were in sight of the shore of
Suu2tra. n portion OF the time being only a
few miles from the coast. hut the following
morning We were cruising in an entirely
Inherent sea among the thousand Islands of
Java, which lie spread ont over a very large
th
instances are not more than fifty feet in cir
conference. In one or two cases a single palm
tree shooting straight up out OF the water WAS
the only evidence that land was near. and on
other OF the islands huge grove OF palms
covered the entire surface. As the shin ps .sed
the breakwater and entered the harbor OF
Batavia We had a very fine view of that portion
OF the Dutch possessions IN this quarter OF the
world Ii wac close and hot when we went on
shore and the ride m the cars 20 the city
a Egn mi a
agreeable. the only relief being in the new
scenes and sights of a strange land
For several miles inland the land is low wet
and marshy. but the Dutch settlers bringing
with them from Holland their thrifty, useful
ways, have bullt canals everywhere until what
was formerly marshy. unproductiye land 10
now well drained and under high cultivation
Java. IN ITS shape. size and situation 10 verv
much like the island of Cuba. Ii 10 about zoo
miles long and from 30 TO 40 wide and here
the Dutch. since l632-or for over $50 wears
have ruled the Malayan population, seeing ID
steadily grow IN numbers and wealth from
year to year. The Dutch brought many of
their queer customs with them. evidence OF
which can be seen on every hand. and in yerv
many ways the larger towns resemble the older
cities of Holland.
The natives are tbrifty-where thew are
gwen chance by the rascally native princes;
the streets are neat and clean; canals run in all
directions, while the Dutch show IN their every
action how contented and pleased they are
with all the good things furnished them by the
Javanese. As the train approaches Batsyi.
huge cocoanut trees line the canal. by the side
of which runs the railroad while banana tree,
cover entire fields. At the station YOU are
taken in charge 10y neat Javanese porter who
shows you to a trnn-looking trap drawn by one
of the diminutve Javanese horses and away
you go through the streets 20 the hotel IN
the reader Inagines that the comforts
of life are unobtainable in this far
away island of Java he would be won
deriuly surprised were he landed at the
Hotel des Indies in Batavia. Az a matter OF
fact the better class of people live as ele-
gantly. in as comfortable houses and with an
many OF the luXurles OF life as do the same
class Of people of any other land. Along the
coast il is hot and unpleasant from April 70
November, but from November until March
the weather is most agreeable. while in the
mountain districts II is delightful the entire
wear. 1t is now what is termed the winter OF wet
season, but so far We have not been tnconyen-
fenced in the least 10y the rain. Nearly every
afternoon about O'Clock a light shower re-
freshes the atmosphere. while the nights are
always cool. 1t is rare at this season for the
thermometer 10 go higher than 80 degrees in
the day time and at night il falls TO about 20
degrees
LIKE A NEW ENGLAND TOWN.
Batavia is one OF the most charming of cities
pleasantly situated on a small river and i'm
coming from the coast the high palm trees
which surround it almost hide it from view I'M
til you right in the busiest portion. The
streets are wide, well paved and clean, with
perfect drainage, running into the many canals
Tin which. however. the natives are constantly
bathing. no matter how dirty the water. while
the homes of the residents are generally stu
ated far back from the street, great trees shsd-
ing them from the midday sun. In many ways
Batavia, from its easy, comfortable. homelks
appearance puts one in mind of some staid,
old New England town. with ITS well-to-do, old
fashioned wave. More especially 10 this so in
the homes located around the four sides Of the
great Waterloo and Kings plains. The houses
generally built of stone, one-story high,
with a great wide inviting piazza in front.
neat well-kept lawn leading clear to the street.
Flowers grow IN profusion. while roses
of all varities grow up and almost over
the houses and in every yard are from
a dozen 10 fifty graceful palms. A good street
car-steam dummy-system furnishes trans
portation 10 the suburbs, while two wheeled
traps can be had at all street corners for about
% cents per hour. In the middle Of the dHy
the streets in the residence portion OF the city
are practically deserted, every one very sensi-
bly, taking nap after lunch-or tiffin, as il 10
invariably termed IN all eastern countries. The
tropical climate is not conducive to hard work
and the residents take life in a very easy man.
ner, from an American standpoint The even
ings and nights are cool and delightful and
from pm until o clock is the time for rid
ing, driving and making and receiving calls.
Inc Dutcn nave niiplt OF going 70 peo lmme-
diately after dinner, which is never served
earlier than r. m. The Dutch appetite 10 q
stalwart one too, and how they manage 10 di-
gest their food can perhaps be explained by
some Kansas City physician. They are moder-
ate drinkers-in fact drunkenness ls practically
unknown in Java.
As is well known the Dutch are the greatest
colouzers in the world, except the English, and
as early as 1852 one of their trading ships
reached Javanese shores from Holland. Bata-
via Was nothing then but a village. while pov
il is q city of 100000 population. OF this num-
Der nearly Sc. 900 are Dutch. There is but one
American resident in Batayis-eyen the Amer
lean consul being an Austrian. His salary ia
only 81 900 year and out OF this he has 10
rent an Office. The reason why an Austrian IL
now the American consul is simply because
the government is SO parsimonous in iIs con-
sular service that an American cannot afford
TO come out 70 Java for the misery salarly Il
pays. Java, 80 far as its internal government
= ..x.z,.sz....a "a st-i.ctls A.....k l.