Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-04-29
NOTES OF A TRAVELLER
WHAT | SAW WHILE IN FOR
EICN LANDS.
Batavia. the Capital Of Japan Hindu Reiif-
ion Prevailed in Early History Of Javanese
Dynasty then Attained aFo,t-
ing and Was Succeeded by Mohammedism
Became Dutch Province in 1890.
BY FRANK N. KENNEY.

BY FRANK N. kENNEY.
BATAVIA, JAVA.
AS we approached the Port of Ba-
tavia an immense white lighthouse,
of characteristic Dutch architecture.
brought to mind that we were near
ing the island over which Holland
now, and for three hundred years
past has ruled.
Batavia is not only the capital but
also the chief city OF the island Of
Java. The first European settlement
was founded On the site of the pres
ent city in 1910, by General Pieter
Both, and the name Jacatra given it.
Nine years later, it was besieged for
five months by the joint forces of the
kings of Batavia and Jacatra, assist
ed Dy the English, but Governor
General COen and his forces success
fully withstoOd the siege. Soon after
this the name of the settlement was
changed TO Batavia.
Sunday Dec. 18th, was the date OF
our arrival. and as the port is some
little distance from the city of Bata-
via proper, we took trains to our
destination. Although we had re-
ceived a reception at Handy, in Cey-
Ion, such as we did not expect to be
equalled outside OF our own posses
sions, it was exceeded by far in this
beautiful island city. At the former
place the children were in the ma
jority of those who so enthusiastic
ally greeted US, but here both old
and young, ladies and gentlemen,
European and native, each We'd with
the other in making us welcome, and
along the line of our route from the
station to the hotel, waiting crowd
waved and cheered us as we passed
by. Considering it was Sunday, and
the Dutch are strict observers of
that day, the reception was all the
more of an agreeable surprise.
The Botanical Garden had been re-
served for our exclusive use, and to
this point our carriages were driven.
There was o large dancing pavilion
in the garden, and in this tables had
been arranged for the serving Of
lunches and dinners during our stay.
The pavilion had been tastefully dec
GRATED with American flags and red,
white and blue electric lights were
strung over the entire building.
During the meals, as well as at other
times, the city band, an excellent set
of musicians, discoursed sweet music
and this coupled with the extremely
pleasing surroundings added to the
enjoyment of the repasts. Our party
became quite enthusiastic over the
musical ability Of the band, and
when they gave selections of oul
popular patriotic music. pandemoni.
um broke loose and an encore was
necessary before they were satisfied
Other amusements had been pro
vided, such az native fencers, musi
. clans and actors. The latter vert
particularly odd for they wore masks
. the color of which varied according
.. to the person or type represented
For Gods they used gold; for distin
guished persons, white; for evi
spirits or giants, black or red
Brown is seldom used, as that is the
natural color of the Javanese skim.
II Pineapples are extensively grown
and they are of fine flavor. While
. not of large size they are inexpen'
size. When about to return to the
ship, purchased six for the equiva
} lent OF ten cents in our money
Large quantities of sugar are pro
duced, and it is of excellent quality
and much is exported to European
countries as well as to Japan. A,
one time the principal product OF the
island was coffee-Java coffee. Who
has not heard of it? In former
years, the Dutch government had 9
monopoly and received considerable
revenue from the sale of its coffee
! but there has been steady decrease
! in the output. Brazilian and Centra
American coffee, together with the
coffee blight were mainly responsible
! for the decline. Tea, however. is or
! the increase but we Americans set
} very little of it as the bulk of thu
crop goes to England and Holland.
The Pasir Naga Tea Estate is one
of the largest plantations. Over two
thousand acres are in cultivation, anG
the remaining forest of two thousand
acres is being transformed into pro
lducing land at the rate of one hun
dred and fifty acres q year. That
tea-raising is profitable is evidenced
by this estate for many years paying
an annual dividend of 25 per cent.
and in 1907, As per cent. was distrib
uted.
\ The hotels have been built to suit
conditions and hence you find the
large hotels surrounded by series
OF small cottages, each separate but
forming harmonious portion of the