Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-10-10

their masters. This system of forced
labor has been greatly modified in re-
cent years, and now survives only in
connection with some Of the govern
ment coffee plantations.
Coffee No Longer Important.
To most Of us, doubtless, the one
agricultural product of Java which is
best known is coffee 1t is something
in the way Of disillusion to learn.
therefore, that the famous Govern
ment Java" of bygone days is of much
less Importance as product of the
colony than formerly. A destructive
blight" visited many of the pianta-
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 cof-
| 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, Monaghan, Portuguese, Hindu
and Arab. Most of the natives are
nominally Mohammedans, but they
lack the fanatfcism 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
1t 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 trying one to Europeans,
although the style of dress in use and
the manner of life do much to miti-
gate 1t. The rainy season lasts from
October to April, and at all times
showers may be expected. One soon
learns that Java is a country of early
rising. The ordinary business man
has finished his coffee and is at his
shop or office by 6 a. m. Between 8
and 4 O'Clock all Europeans endeavor
to keep indoors. The midday meal Is
taken between 1 and 2, and fashion
able society does not bestir itself I'M
til after 5 o'clock, when driving and
visiting is in order until or o'clock
when dinner is served.
The ancient city of Batavia, metrop-
oils Of Java, is a grim, time-worn place,
with many warehouses and govern
ment buildings grouped amid the In
tersecting canals. 1t is said to be
unhealthy, and is wholly given over
to commercial interests. But driving
on clean, well-kept roads for two
miles along canals suggesting Holland
one reaches the modern residential
suburb Of Weltevreden with it's broad
avenue facing the Konigsplein, a
great green parade ground, with its
bordering streets shaded by rows of
tamarind trees. Facing this extensive
park are numerous neat villas built in
the bungalow style, often empowered
in cool foliage, the home of active and
retired officials, army officers, plant
ers. and business and professional
men who go to make up the white
population Of the capital.
Java was never affected by the tur-
bulent pirate empires that held sway
in the islands little farther to the
east. Conditions in Java, therefore.
furnish good measure Of the success
OF Dutch control.