Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-16
THE VERMONT PHOENIX,
BRATTLEBORO GLOBE TROTTER.
WITH THE IRON HAND.
Dutch Grant but Few Privileges to
Foreigners in Java.


Food, Including the Heterogeneous
Rice Curry---EntOmOlOgIca Congress
at Might.
BATAVIA, JAVA, Dec. %, 1899.
Java, as you know, is thoroughly govern
ed and guarded land gutted) by the Dutch.
who as competent conservative controllers
legislate solely for the Dutch and recognize
the natural rights of none save the Dutch.
In fact, no other foreigner is welcome,
wanted or treated with consideration and
the obstacles and difficulties put in their
way is not only sufficient in its discourage
ing results, but usually is legslized hand
leap too perfectly executed to make the in
tentions of an ambitious foreigner look
even hopeful
No foreign company can do business in
Java except under a Dutch name, no cor
poration can exist without board of
Dutch directors, and no justice can be ex-
pected in the courts if in any way a Dutch
man opposes. A passport through the Of
flee of ones consul is necessary for a So
journ in the island and another from the
general secretary of the Dutch government
of the island is required ere one is permit
ted to travel through the interior. This is
everywhere asked for, to make certain and
evident that ones jaunt through Java is as
difficult as it is an extended favor from the
Dutch.
Since no foreigners are invited, their
coming is taken to mean no introduction of
good, and, accordingly, this issuing of pass
ports seems to be ones only means of prov
ing himself innocent of the guilt and mall
volition attributed to him.
But, surely, the Dutch have reason to be
proud of their pet possession and their de-
velopment of it attests their selfish devo-
ton and jealousy. Nothing in the way of
Improvement and advancement is noticea-
bly, lacking and the instilled appreciation
and personal pride of the peaceful, frugal
population of over 40, 600 900 makes taxa
ton seem unoppressive and general pros
perity possible attainment.
Unlike Japan, China and the Philippines,
no acre of land is untitled and no lazy in
difference to labor or indolent satisfaction
is apparent among the industrious natives.
The country, to be sure, needs but the
touch of yman to make it produce natures
finest and it is not uncommon for a given
space of land which would yield 90 pounds
of potatoes and 80 pounds of wheat to
yield 1000 pounds of bananas, and its these
which constitute the chief food of the
islanders. The fruits which grow every
where wild are as remarkable in their va
riety and quantity as is their deliciousness
and quality. A tufted cocoanut orchard or
a coffee and tea plantation is as common
as plain of well watered galleried rice
paddles, and no belittling of the remarka-
BILE productivity of the soil would be justi-
fed or possible if tropical growths are to
be compared
The highways and country roads are uni
versally fine and the narrow-gauge rail
l.
roadbeds and gardened stations. Nature is
here utilized and combined with artificial
engineering to make the railroad lines as
picturesque and attractive as is possible.
Consistent with the customary dress of
the Javanese the conductors, as well as the
servants in the hotels and the native SOL
diers, all serve you barefooted, and al
though modesty seems to he cultivated gen.
orally, a noticeable lack of it is considered
healthy until a person becomes a dozen
years old Nor is it inappropriate in such
a climate. The people take six and seven
baths day and as early as in the morn
ing the river is filled with women and chill
dren who continue to keep the water roily
until dark.
There is thunder shower every after
noon about l or 2, lasting nearly an hour,
but previous to it and afterwards the sun
is sure to get in its good work. Everybody
rises early and the midday siesta is a ne
cessity, for it is said that nobody but Eng
lishmen and dogs venture out in the heat of
the day. The other unalterable custom,
which everyone must adopt, is the "rice
table" Rice and bread alone make up the
menu of the young hotels and the former
served in every conceivable form Is the
meal of midday, whereas the breakfast,
served at 8, is of bread, for coffee awaits
one at daybreak in his bedroom. The af
ternoon tea occurs about A and dinner is an
nounced at p. NJ. If eats count for any
thing you get it, but to delay your visit to
the one long table means a consequent loss
of courses served, for its a typical ICON
game" and non-appearance means absolute
starvation.
To describe to you the characteristic
"dish" of the Orient known as curry would
| be to tell YOU its silo of over spiced ground
herbs, fish, fowl and fruit representing
| every name in a complete herbarium and
defying science to detect the ingredients of
the iaundiced concoction. The hetreogen-
eous amalgamation of unknown parts, with
| an odor like low tide and a taste of antiq.
uity, is ladled over plate of rice and, after
| a thorough dose has been administered TO
the uususpecting innocent rice, the I'M
tempting inimitable glue is ready for the
inexperienced palate nervy enough to ac-
cept it.
The coffee is served from bottle con
tanning the strongest essence of the berry
which one pours cold into the cup (about a
spoonfuO adding to it sugar and completing
the beverage by pouring hot milk over it,
The nights are comfortably cool and with
the approach of darkness comes the ento-
biological congress of every known insect
from the ubiquitous lizard which is rec
ognized occupant of every room, to the
Haveyized armor plate piercing mosquito
They are as familiar as numerous, and
around the dim light of the little string
wick which burns in a glass OF cocoanut
oil the light allured jewellers dance til
dawn. Naught else disturbs the serene
silence of the tropical night but the hun
of the crickets and the rustling OF the
gigantic palm leaves. Pecu liar to the OBJ
serving and oftentimes confusing to the
eve trained north of the equator, is thu
fact that all shadows point to the south anC
ones precaution to have his room on thu
cool north side of the house finds the sun
rays powerful punishment for his thought
lessness.
In summary, Java has a climate and
development of natural productivity un
ouestionably ideal, not as hot as the Phi
innines not as cold as India, and varying il
| Iiieu I'D taunnerature hut imperceptibll