The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-10-17


labor has been greatly modified In re
cent years. and now survives only IL
connection with some Of the govern
ment coffee plantations.
Coffee No Longer Important.
To most of US, doubtless, the ONT
agricultural product Of Java which IL
best known is coffee 1t is something
in the way Of a disillusion to learn
therefore. that the famous Govern.
ment Java" of bygone days is Of much
less Importance as a product OF the
colony than formerly. A destructive
blight" visited many of the planta-
tons some years since. Some districts
were slow In recovering from this, and
meantime the coffee planters of Brazil
captured the bulk of the worlds cot
fee trade.
Hollands Javan subjects are most
ly Of Malayan stock; but situated at
the gate" of a great world highway.
1t Is natural that they have received
considerable admixture of other
blood. There are strains Of the Poly
nesian. Mongolian, Portuguese, Hindu
and Arab. Most Of the natives are
nominally Mohammedans, but they
lack the fanaticism and strictness Of
many of that cult. Holy days are not
observed strictly. pork is widely con-
sumed. and there Is little seclusion Of
women.
The early culture Of Java can be
traced to India, and there is no doubt
that this Hindu influence had the
greatest effect on the religion, Ian
guage and literature Of the island
At the present time this influence
is evidenced not only In the Ian
guage and arts Of the country. but by
the great temples erected to Buddha.
One of these. known as Great
Buddha." or "Boro Boedoer," is by
many considered to be the greatest
monument Of Buddhistic architecture
in existence. The Arab Mohammedan
invasion occurred in the latter part
of the Fifteenth century, and when
the Dutch began to extend their set
Elements, in the early decades of the
Seventeenth century, they found the
faith of Islam extended to most parts
of the island.
For the purposes Of government, the
island is divided into % residences
under the control of a governor gen.
eral. who lives In Buitenzorg, a hill
station near Batavia. Each province
has its resident. who Is assisted by
various subordinates. In their deal
ings with the natives the Dutch find
it expedient to collect the taxes and
administer the government through an
army of native officials. Thus native
princes fill the Office of regent In some
of the provinces and play" at ruling.
but all real power rests with the for
eign rulers, who are called "elder
brothers"
Climate Wet and Trying,
Lying so close to the equator. the
climate is a trying one to Europeans, |
although the style of dress in use and |
he manner Of life do much to miti /
yate 1t. The rainy season lasts from /
October to April. and at all times
showers may be expected. One soon
earns that Java is a country of early
Using. The ordinary business man
las finished his coffee and is at his
hop or office by 6 a. m. Between
nd o'clock all Europeans endeavor
o keep indoors. The midday meal IL
AIKEN between l and 2. and fashion
BILE society does not bestir itself un-
II after 5 O'Clock. when driving and
listing is in order until or o'clock
ih,1 dinner is served.
The ancient city OF Batavia. metrop-
lis Of Java, is a grim, time-worn place,
18th many warehouses and govern
lent buildings grouped amid the In
ersecting canals. 1t Is said to be
and is wholly given over
, commercial interests. But driving
q clean, well-kept roads for two
lies along canals suggesting Holland
ne reaches the modern residential
iburb of Weltevreden with its broad
venue facing the Konigsplein, a
-eat green parade ground, with its
streets shaded by rows of
marind trees. Facing this extensive
,rk are numerous neat villas built In
e bungalow style, often EMPOWERED
cool foliage. the home of active and
tired officials, srmy officers, plant
$. and business and professional
en- who go to make up the white
'pulation of the capital
Java was never affected by the tur-
lent pirate empires that held sway
the islands a little farther to the
st. Conditions in Java. therefore.
rnish a good measure Of the success
Dutch control