The National tribune., 1908-03-19
OBJECT LESSON.
Continued from page one.

out its first branches at hight of 100
feet The most beautiful orchids are
found in the woods growing by the side
of mushrooms of enormous size and
strange and brilliant IcOlOrs. On all
sides there is water leaping from the
hillsides in misty cataracts and shining
in placid lakes that reflect the sur
rounding landscape. Here too, are
found the most charming gardens filled
with heliotrope, mignonette. carnations,
pansies etc, and from the dense foliage
of the leaves of the grape vine the
bright scarlet faces of strawberries peep
FORTH AS one goes up higher the
changes in the landscape become more
and more marked. The type fpf the fol-
iage is different less fantastic in shape,
less luxurious and more somher in tone.
The Towering trees disappear, and in
their stead one sees the oak, and chest
nut and the red MAPLE. WHICH sustains
its fanlike leaves on delicate bright red
stalks On the cloudy mountain nights
of Tosari the scenery Is grand beyond
descriptions combination of vast hill
ranges, waterfalls, precipices and NOV
ing seas of cloud, and here are found
such flowers as grow On the Alps, as
well as the most splendid of orchids,
which little higher up disappear from
view. In the lower hills are charming
hooks and corners no less beautiful, tho
in a different way, from the mountains.
Many of these are yet unmarried by
railroads and hotels, and are but little
known. to the ordinary traveller.
Java is cultivated from edge to edge
like a tulip garden, and kept just as
carefully tended and weeded. All the
valleys, plains and hillsides are laid out
in the neatest and most perfect of rows,
hedged, terraced and banked, and given
the same care and attention an enthu-
siastic gardener gives his choicest
plants. Thru the length and breadth
of the island extend smooth roads, per-
feet as parks and lined with trees. The
drives along these are of endless beau
ty, and as one rolls over them this in
tense and careful cultivation which
meets the eye from every point makes
most convincing the claim which has
been made for Java that II Is the finest
tropical island in the world and the gem
of the Indies" In a way it is as fin
ished as Holland itself, with that added
inexpressible charm which only the
tropics can give.
hill country, is one of moist tropical
heat. This, however is a good dea
mitigated by the southeast trade WIND
that blows almost necessarily from April
| TO October, and also by a northwest oil
west wind which blows nearly as con-
tinually during the other six months
The former period is known as the dry
season and the latter as the wet OF
rainy. This distinction is most marked
| in the eastern part of the island, rair
growing more frequent as the west is
approached. At Batavia, for instance
| there is no part of the year when there
| is no rain.
The greater part of the soil is claim
ed as Government property, most of the
private estates being in the western
part, which are owned chiefly by Euro
peans and the Chinese. The bulk OF
| the people are agricultural labOrers
Previous to 1882 the Government had
the power to enforce one days gratui.
| tous work out of seven or more from
all laborers, but by the payment of one
guilder (about 40 cents) yearly such
labor is not now required except fol
the produce of coffee. Rice, coffee and
sugar are the principal products of the
island. Java is certainly the Land OF
| the Rice. The whole isls nd is one vast
rice field. Rice on the swampy plains
on the rising ground,i on the slopes, on
the very summit of the hills; wherever
the eyes rest they meet the regularly
marked-off rice paddles. and the same
color, either the blueish-green of the
young or the tawny gold of the ripened
grain. To the Javanese to lack rice is
~ ldch IOOu, anu tlle1r eltlTe lives are
| bound up in the seasons of planting
and reaping. happiness or misery de-
pending upon the abundance or dearth
of the harvest.
The great native national feast comes
at the time of harvest. which is ended
by the ceremony Of the wedding of the
| Rice. The Javanese,, like the ancients
believe in the soul of inanimate things
and the rites of this ceremony are to
propritiate or honor the Javanese, De-
meter, whose soul animates the rice
plant. When the harvest time arrives
the men leave their work, and with the
women in holiday attire, with flowers
| in their hair or stuck into a fold OF
| their handkerchief, repair to the ripe
rice field, where, by means of a little
instrument made of bamboo, having a
knife inserted in the wooden blade, they
cut each ripe ear separately with as
graceful a gesture as culling a flower
In spite of the attempts of the Govern
ment to introduce the sickle among
them for this purpose. the Javanese
persist In harvesting their rice in this
ancient and time-consuming way, be-
lieving that the use of the sickle would
| Show wanton 6isrespect to the god
dess and contempt of her precious
gift.
1 Fy