The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-19


 eruptions in these Southern islands that in 1915, during the one which shook Tomboro, on Sumbawa, percepti- ble evidences of it's eXistences were ex- tended to a circumference of l,000 mlles from the center. Three distinct col umns of fire ascended to great height. The earth shook, the whirlwind roared' and the ocean rose twelve feet higher than ever before."
 In Java, the author had the experi- ences in the hotels that were noted py some of his predecessors as extremely curious. The heat of the climate IS so great that degree of negligence IS vls- ible which elsewhere would be deemed indecent. Every hotel Is provided With an inner court, round which runs a broad veranda. The shade of this porch is utilized by all the guests as sitting place all day long, and no one seems surprised at any style of undress which may happen to come under his observation, for in @ torrid climate much at a discount.
 He found in the museum of Batavia a complete compendium of the Dutch possessions in the East and the sur rounding islands. Tt is confined en- tirely to the curios of these islands, and possesses a sample of every known kind. The treasure room is especially | rich in jewels and gold, crowns and or naments, all at one time the property of some long dead Rajahs. The musi- cal instruments are very interesting. There are numerous kinds made of bamboo, which give forth melodious | tumble of sounds as one strikes them, and there are gongs and tomtoms with out number. Grotesque gods and imag- es fill every nook and corner Here Brahma and wonder Buddha, smile placidly on through the crowding years. Everything is colored to that point of gorgeousness so dear to -he heart of these dwellers under the sun. If you desire to make @ study of the manners and customs of any people dwelling within this archipelago, you need go no farther than this museum to learn all that you wish to know"
 More interesting, even, than its lnu- scum are the ruins which abound in ey- cry part of the island of Java. There Is no part of the world, not even India | {. those which were built by the native kings of Java, 12o0 years sgo. The ruins of Boro Bodo, in extent aho height, resemble a mountain, and 1T their present dilapidated condition might easily be mistaken. at distance for natural hill. Yet this enormous structure, often described by travellers is but one of hundreds of temples whose ruins are to be found all over the island Eight hundred years before Columbus sailed on his eventful voy' age these temples were completed II all their glory. The great statues ol Buddha and the gods of the Hindot mythology, gigantic in their propor tions, looked down from their lofty ele 1 vation, on the plains below, where were assembled their thousands of worship pers. It is difficult to conceive of the barbaric magnificence that must have l been presented by these gorgeous shrines in the days when the islant was ruled by native princes.
 Java is commonly regarded, in civil ized countries as region infested b, l all sorts of wild animals and venomou: | reptiles as the home of the cholera | ana the dDlulHS pidce ol liiS PioS uS GIN l other Eastern pestilences; the author | did not find it 50 but a pleasant tropica country, inhabited by a dense popula ton, apparently well contented witt their condition. The most serious drawback to sightseeing in the islant l is the narrow policy of the Dutch gov ernment. Holland is a feeble state surrounded by powerful neighbors, an' the government is evidently fearfu that if the world learns of the wealtl and resources of it's great insular pos session in the East, a pretext will b made, by some stronger neighbor, tt seize the wealthy island, hence tn Dutch policy is to discourage visitors No guides are provided at any poin in the travellers course and what in formation he can gather must be pick ed up by himself The policy seem narrow. but in view of the fact tha Holland is independent solely by tn permission of her neighbors in Europe it is inspired by that caution for whicl the Dutch have long been proverbial.- St Louis Globe-D Democrat.