Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-10-24

4 GREAT school Of islands,
AZ nosing their way northerly in
single file, strives ever to gain
Roadway against the tides of
the Indian ocean and the steady blast
OF the monsoon, and thus to pass Bor-
neo and reach sanctuary in the Bay of
Bengal. The leader is Simultaneous
nous, sinister and unsophisticated, all
out rubbing coasts with the great fin
ger of the Malay peninsula that slen-
der, sea-lapped mountain range that
has never lost hope of becoming still
another island. Close behind the lead
or swim Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa,
Flores and host of lesser fry-names
redolent with spices and reminiscent
OF pirates and early explorers.
From the deck of the steamer every
island seems to be still in almost prim-
tive glory, with only scattering of
hamlets and native huts to break the
feather forest Of fronds, writes Will
liam Beebe in Asia. But as entrance
by train into beautiful city shows it
as if made up of railway yards, coal
dumps, tenements and posters Of
chewing gum and Turkish baths, so
the ships passenger is sometimes de-
ceived. Borneo and Sumatra are sin
cere, and their great primeval forests,
their orang-utans and elephants are as
the Imagination pictures them. But
Dutch builders have eclipsed the will
derness of Java and have transformed
1t into an Indian isle of superficial
beauty, overrun by host Of cringing
natives, with stupidity and fecundity
as outstanding attributes. The thrifty
Dutch who have wrought this change
have lost the gentle, kindly nature of
their forebears and with the sarong
garb of the natives have acquired
heavy .dullness and a cupidity which is
manifested in suspicion of all stran-
gers and an inhospitable attitude for
! eign to any but Teutonic colonists.
Exaggerations in Ways of Life.
But was still ignorant of all this
as sat on the deck of the steamer of
the "Koninkluke Paketvaart Maat-
| schappiji''-the latter being inserted
at this point as local color, and be-
cause am writing and not speaking
this paragraph. Among all nations
one is not surprised at unexpected ex-
aggerations in habits and ways of life,
as my first tropical Dutch dinner wit
messed. "Riz tavel" was announced-an
achievement which would strain the
capacity of brigade supply depot on
| hn hot
calls the Japanese tea ceremony, and
whose ultimate results equal a West
Indian pepper pot in diversity and an
old-fashioned wedding bouquet in riot
Of color. Upon large plate you pile
rice-a veritable Fuji Yama of the
white grains and then you carry the
smile further and carve out mighty
crater. If it is formal and complete
riz tavel, twice 16 walters should line
up, each presenting small dish-tiny
red fish, sliced sausage, beets, beans,
sprouted seeds-in fact, melange of
fish, flesh, fowl and vegetables, until
Fujrs crater is overlooking, and lava
like streams of beet blood and gravy
wind slowly down its slopes. Then this
edible kaleidoscope is mixed and
kneaded and eaten. If the diner is
non-Hollandais, he excuses himself
| from dessert.
"outfit for Gentlemen"
Later, in the reading room, opened
book of hints for the traveller to
Java, and on page eight perused long
and elaborate list entitled minimum
| Outfit for Gentlemen" 1t reads like
resume of all the clothes had ever
owned since l put on long trousers.
After the two dozen suits of pajamas
and the dozen flannel trousers, and the
black coat, waistcoat and fancy trou-
sers, it ended: "Also waterproof
/ coat, cape and hat, sun-helmet, a
cap for use on board, straw hat for
| ashore, soft felt hat, and tall silk
or opera hat. Gloves should be kept
| in a dry bottle with chloride OF lime."
/ My daZed mind refused to register
| further. thought sadly of my modest
| outfit, of my few pajamas wrapped
| about bottles of formaline and alcohol,
and / wondered if anywhere in the
heart of the Javanese jungles could
| purchase IS suits of pajamas, the lack
| Of which invalidated any claims I
! might put forth as to the status of gen
| tleman. And what about the rubber
! and straw and felt and silk coverings