Javanese spears and lances, collected by the Resident
during his long term of office.
The Javanese, like the Chinese, are very fond of
kite-flying. I saw some beautiful specimens, representing
birds, as large as six feet by three feet, very
cleverly made of split bamboo and coloured silk or
cotton; it was quite a sight to see these monsters
rise high into the air.
Djokjokarta lies within fifteen miles of the south
coast of Java, in the same longitude as Samarang, on
its northern shore ; and, having reached the former by
an easterly semi-circular route, I now proposed returning
in the opposite direction, so as to enable me to make
a wide circle, and by that means see a large extent of
the most fertile districts of the island; moreover, the
famous Buddhist ruins, which I had come to visit, lying
on that route, not many miles east of Magellang, the
capital of the province of Kadoe.
I made an early start in a small comfortable char-d,-banc
with an awning and six horses, the road not only being
hilly but also in deplorable condition, owing to heavy
showers. The morning was fine, but towards noon the
rain came down in torrents, and continued to do so,
with occasional breaks, when the sunshine revealed
views of exceeding beauty, The Kadoe has been
deservedly called the garden of J ava ; it is but a small
province, but densely populated, and although several
thousands of feet above the level of the sea, is really
situated in a hollow, as its name signifies,—a large
basin, formed by lofty mountains and volcanoes, at times
reaching a height of 8,000 to 11,000 feet, and teaming
with virgin forests. Its extraordinary fertility is
proved by the utter absence of uncultivated ground ;
plantations of coffee, vanilla, cinchona, and tobacco on
the higher ground vie with those of sugar, rice, pepper,
cotton, and indigo on the lower and irrigated districts;
besides the mountains produce much valuable timber
and sulphur, and even a beautiful marble which is
celebrated all over the island.
Few plants in Java being deciduous, tbe aspect of the
country is a smiling one throughout the year. There
are seen in conjunction with the plantations of produce,
palms, bamboos, and the deadly upas tree (Antiaris
texicaria) in the low land, succeeded by fig species and
the lofty rasimalas, prominent to the eye by their
immense white trunks; then on a higher range still, oaks
and laurels ; and beyond 6,000 feet to the summit,
heath, pines, etc. As regards the poisonous property
of the upas tree, authorities seem to differ. Mr. Hing-
ston, in his “ Australian Abroad,” gives an account of
a specimen he met with at the foot of the volcanic