S a m e o f t h e
P r i n c e o f
B a l im b u a n .
M a t a r a ;
wretched iiland of Robben, near the cape of Good Hope*, where
he was living in April 1 7 7 5 , dragging on a miferable being, in the
charadter of a common ilave. ' Whoever wifhes to have a fuller
account of this tragical and infamous event, may find it pathetically
told in a voyage to the Eaft Indies, 1 7 4 7 , 1 7 4 8 , published
in 1 7 6 2 : the perufal will be a trial o f the heart o f the reader.
Balimbuan is another little kingdom, at the eaftern extremity
of the ifland. It feems that the Dutch, apparently without any
motives o f emolument, attacked alfo the prince o f this country;
he defended himfelf vigoroufly for two years, was overpowered,
himfelf confined for life in the caftle of Batavia, his family torn-
from him, and fent to keep company with the Madurian prince
at Robben ifland.
Matara, the capital of the once potent empire o f that name, is
in about Lat. 8° 12', on the fouth fide o f Java. Even this empire
was, after many contefts, rendered dependent on the Dutch,
who having depofed the ufurping fovereign, placed the rightful
heir on the throne; but they chofe for him his place o f refi-
dence, fecured his allegiance by a citadel, and fupplying him
with every conveniency for his pleafures, rendered this weak
prince entirely fubfervient to their will. In this part of the
ifland is plenty of Peek, and timber for the building of
fhips, or for exportation to other parts o f India', here they have
their docks; befides they carry on great commerce in rice, fait,
pepper, and many other valuable productions.
Java wants its Marfden; but with fuch lights as I can procure,
I ihall attempt a brief defcription of this important ifland.
* Forfter’s Voy, ii. 556,
Marco
Marco Polo is very concife in his account o f it, which he names
limply Java*. In his days there was only one monarch. It was
greatly frequented by merchants for the fake o f the pepper
and other fpices; he mentions nutmegs, which probably have
been fince extirpated by the political Dutch. James Bontius, a B o n t iu s .
ghyfician o f great eminence, who flouriihed here very foon after
the foundation o f Batavia by Koen, has furniihed very good
materials for the medical and natural hiftory o f the ifland.
It is from a variety of authors I muft feledt accounts relative
to other fubjedts.
. Java extends from Wejl Point, in Lat. 6° 36' fouth, Long. E x t e n t o f
I2i° 33' from Paris, to Eaft Point, in Lat. 8° 33', Long. 1320, near ^AVA‘
feven hundred miles in length. The courfe is weft and eaft,
with an inclination to the fouth; the greateft breadth is about
forty -leagues, and nearly o f equal diameter, except where the
bays make ibme fmall contractions,
T h e land on the coafts varies; at the weftern and eaftern extremities,
it is high, but I believe in general the fhores are
low, fwampy, and unhealthy. A lofty chain o f mountains runs
from weft to eaft through the middle, with numbers of branches
ifluing from each fide to uncertain diftances from the fea. Some
o f the mountains are very lofty, and the air cool and falubrious ;
among them are very active volcanoes; the mountain o f Parang V o l c a n o e s .
is the principal, and faid to be very productive o f gold; the Dutch
fpent near a million in attempting the difcovery, but were dif-
appointed in their fearch; thefe mountains produce befides Rubies
and Sapphires. Earthquakes are frequent and dreadful.
* Bergeron, p. 130«
V o l . IV. F I a m