The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-10-17
Women Carrying Rice: Java.

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. D. CO.
While the Netherlands are celebrat
Ing the silver jubilee of their rule
and the peace and well-being Of tn
kingdom in war-torn Europe, one ma.
well turn half around the world Il
the beautiful island of Java. queen O.
Dutch possessions, which has contrib
uted so heavily to the country's pros
perity.
Distance does Java an injustice. Thu
Westerner, seeing on his map thi.
slender island lying of the southeast
EN- point of Asia, might well compare
It to our own Long Island which 1
resembles In shape But Java Is 6
giant, equaling In area the entire state
of New York.
Volcano-made In the first place and
constantly being remade by them
Java has more volcanoes than any
area of its size In the world Esti-
mates Of the active and extinct GRAFT
ers range from 100 to $50. Every
where In Java, in the huge crater
lakes, In assures that now are river
beds, even in ancient temples, half
finished when interrupted by some
fiery CONFUSION, are evidences of cat
aclysmic forces-such turbulent forces
as now are In continuous hysteria In
the Valley Of the Ten Thousand
Smokes in Alaska-and break their
crusted surface cage internationally in
Java.
Java is fifth in size Of the Dutch
islands; but it is probably best known,
and for good reason. Enthusiastic
observers have called 1t 1.-The garden
spot of the world" Its soil is con-
stantly enriched by its active vol
canoes, It is well watered. and four
out of every five acres of its surface
are cultivated. Even mountain peaks
10000 feet high are girdled by unbrok
en- fields up 10 half their height. above
which forests still hold sway.
Java. with its $4,000 square miles
of area, has a population of about
$4,000. OO0-one-third that of the Unit
ed States which is 20 times as large.
Compared with other geographical
units of its size, it is probably the
most populous as well as the most
prosperous region in the world. Most
of the inhabitants live in villages AL
though it has only four cities as large
or larger than Reading. Pa. the dens-
ity of population for the island as a
whole is close to 700 per square mile
greater than that of Belgium, the
most crowded country in Europe. or
Shantung. the most heavily populated
province In China.
Luxuriance of Vegetation.
The deep rich soil of this favored
island supports vegetation which, in
Iuxuriance and variety. is unsurpassed
area, and ever since the Dutch estab-
ished their first settlement on the
sland, In 1895. golden harvest OF
agricultural products has been year
= garnered~ to swell the granaries of
he colonists and the revenues Of the
lome government.
To the visiting American perhaps
me of the most noticeable features !
bout Java is the distinctly paternal |
haracter of the Dutch colonial admin
stration. On landing at Batavia. one |
must report directly to the chief Of
olice to obtain permits TO travel on
he island. Before these are granted.
ull answers must be given as to
ames. nationality. occupation, age
nd purpose in visiting Java. During
he travellers subsequent wanderings,
e must hold these permits in readi-
ess for inspection by officials, and at
( some interest to the authorities. AS
matter Of fact the uniform policy
the government has been. In for
Ter years, to discourage foreign trav-
in Netherlands-India. and the pres
at regulations are only concession
, the modern spirit which demands
zee intercourse among the nations.
To one who halls from a country
here private initiative counts for
, much, 1t is something of surprise
learn that nearly all the land is
vned by the government. In secur-
& from the native princes by treaty !
Id purchase the lordship of the land.
e Dutch government also inherited |
q right to receive one-fifth of prod
'e and the labor Of the peasant. This
to the introduction. in the year I
50, of what is known as the culture
STEM" This was a device to In
ease the revenues. and consisted in
e exaction of forced labor from the +
asants. who were compelled. under e
lcial supervision. to cultivate tobac- +
. coffee. sugar. tea and indigo for o