Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-01-15
WONDERS OF JAVA
A Glimpse of the Most Beautiful
island In the World.
WAS ONCE A MIGHTY EMPIRE

Only the Architectural Ruins Of Its
Ancient Civilization Now Remain
Its Royal Prisoners and the National
Sport of Tiger Fighting.
The island of Java has been called
b; more than enc traveller the most
beautiful is!:;i.L in thu. world. 1t is III
shape much like Cuba. 1t is long and
narrow, about 700 miles one way and
less than 100 the other. Some OF the
mountains are 10000 or 10000 feet
high, but there are no snow clad peaks.
They are all clothed to the summit
with the richest tropical vegetation,
for they are almost directly under the
equator. There are at least thirty or
forty volcanoes in the island, many OF
them still active.
The island is controlled by the Dutch
About the time the pilgrim fathers
sailed from Holland to land on Plym-
outh rock another expedition from the
same country carried the Dutch dag to
the other side Of the world, and Dutch
governors have ruled in Java for about
800 years. But the remarkable archi-
tectural remains in the interior bear
testimony to the extinct civilization Of
a mighty empire once enthroned upon
this island and of an ancient religion
that was supplanted by Buddhism.
Although the Dutch are complete
masters. these are still native rulers
11f in ho ic1o md c1r1f
who are allowed to retain their lofty
titles and live surrounded with an i'm
perial etiquette, although they are in
reality little better than state prison
crS.
The emperor lives in his "kraton.' Il
large Enclosure in which is the palace:
Before the palace stretches the 50 call
cd "Alon-Alon." a broad, open space,
often flanked on one side by mosque.
and this is the arena for the tiger
fights. which are the favorite diversion
of monarch and subject alike.
For these c0mbats hunters trap IT,
gers in the gnificent
beasts, not born in a cage and half
subdued by long confinement, but real
kings of the forest. caught full grown
and with their strength increased by
rage at their captivity.
Sometimes the fight is with bull or
Il buffalo. but more often with train
ed fighters of the human race, and a
striking popularity of the combat is
that not infrequently the onlookers
! themselves are forced to take part in
the performance.
Within the "Alon-A1on'' great
square or ring is marked of, and
along its sides the mass of the spec
tators take their places, the men arm
ed with spears Of different lengths.
Those with the shorter spears kneel
in the front rank. while those with the
longer weapons stand behind them. 50
that together they present close
hedge Of bristling spear points.
II the tiger tries to break through
the ring Of spectators he must, II the
spears are firmly held. impale himself
on either the longer or the shorter
ones. while the men on either side car
easily run him through with their
l
ual in the wide circle must be dexter.
GUS in the use Of the spear and also
know something about the habits and
disposition of the tiger.
! The leading role is naturally taken
by professional tiger fighters. The big
wooden cage in which the fierce beast
has been confined is dragged into the
middle of the great arena, and as it is
opened an unarmed and unshielded
| fighter advances toward it and with a
certain measure of ceremony and even
! Of politencss challenges the tiger to
| come forth.
Suddenly realizing it's freedom. the
beast usually starts in wild fight to.
! ward the ring Of spectators, only to
halt before the impenetrable array of
| cleaning spears. From side to side OF
the ring it bounds. always met by the
same impossible barrier, until finally
the real tiger fighters. each armed
only with lance. enter the ring. Usu-
| ally there are two or three, but only
fighters Of the first rank dare to en-
counter the enraged animal unsupport-
| eel and alone.
They watch the moment in which
the tiger crouches for it's spring and
kneel low. with tense grasp of the
spear. which they point toward the
tiger in such a manner that he cannot
help impaling himself on it. Besides the
courage that the moment calls for. the
Wanted skill and daring of the Span
ish toreador are the veriest child's play.
for the charge of the great beast may
be so fierce that it knocks the lance
| aside. and then there is nothing but
the spears of the other men to save
the tiger fighter from being killed and
Inangled by the angry creature
Youths Companion.