During the rainy season, the whole of the extensive swamp, on which Batavia stands, is completely submerged, and the roads to the city are then nearly impassable; this is the season when reptiles abound, and moschetoes and insects bear sovereign sway. This is not the most unhealthy part of the year; but when the rains are subsiding, and expose an immense surface covered with vegetable matter, in a state of putridity, fevers, dysenteries, &c., &c., are then uplifted by every breeze, and borne on every wind.
The principal harbour of the island is Surabaya, which is formed by the approaching extremities of the eastern part of Java, and the island of Madura. The second river in size, in Java, empties itself into the sea at this place. The next in importance, is Batavia; the roadstead is sheltered by several islands, in the outer part of the bay.
The population of Java and Madura, in 1815, amounted to four millions, six hundred and fifteen thousand, two hundred and seventy, of which ninety-four thousand four hundred and forty-one were Chinese; and the island of Madura contained two hundred and eighteen thousand, six hundred and seventy-nine. The population of the principal capitals was estimated as follows:—Batavia and its extensive suburbs have a circumference of about twenty-four miles, and contain about three hundred and fifteen thousand souls; Semarang, is calculated at twenty thousand; and Surabaya, at twenty-five thousand.
TABLES OF EXPORTS.
I herewith present a comparative statement of exports from Java, during ten years, according to the report of the customs:—
| [†]Coffee. | Pepper. | Indigo. | Arak. | Hides. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piculs. | Piculs. | Pounds. | Leag. | Ticals. | |
| 1823 | 285,000,000 | 3,000,000 | ---- | 605 | 37,000,000 |
| 1824 | 242,000,000 | 3,000,000 | ---- | 468 | 58,000,000 |
| 1825 | 278,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 175 | 45,000,000 |
| 1826 | 340,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 433 | 75,000,000 |
| 1827 | 400,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 464 | 60,000,000 |
| 1828 | 416,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 23,000,000 | 534 | 47,000,000 |
| 1829 | 282,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 46,000,000 | 1400 | 44,000,000 |
| 1830 | 389,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 22,000,000 | 1900 | 30,000,000 |
| 1831 | 300,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 43,000,000 | 1500 | 63,000,000 |
| 1832 | 314,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 168,000,000 | 2000 | 82,000,000 |
| Mace. | Nutmegs. | Cloves. | Sugar. | Tin. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piculs. | Piculs. | Piculs. | Piculs. | Piculs. | |
| 1823 | 428 | 1341 | 1726 | 53,000,000 | 12,000,000 |
| 1824 | 1500 | 3327 | 1750 | 47,000,000 | 30,000,000 |
| 1825 | 735 | 3471 | 1930 | 16,000,000 | 9,000,000 |
| 1826 | 556 | 2237 | 542 | 20,000,000 | 14,000,000 |
| 1827 | 1085 | 6000 | 777 | 32,000,000 | 16,000,000 |
| 1828 | 600 | 1650 | 1832 | 26,000,000 | 20,000,090 |
| 1829 | 180 | 1160 | 2431 | 77,000,000 | 24,000,000 |
| 1830 | 177 | 1300 | 803 | 109,000,000 | 21,000,000 |
| 1831 | 745 | 2550 | 1531 | 120,000,000 | 30,000,000 |
| 1832 | 949 | 3850 | 5144 | 246,000,000 | 40,000,000 |
| Rice. | Rattans. | Tortsi. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koy. | Piculs. | Piculs. | |
| 1823 | 4,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 26 |
| 1824 | 3,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 47 |
| 1825 | 8,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 22 |
| 1826 | 6,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 28 |
| 1827 | 10,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 19 |
| 1828 | 16,000,000 | 31,000,000 | 37 |
| 1829 | 15,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 83 |
| 1830 | 15,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 43 |
| 1831 | 10,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 95 |
| 1832 | 23,000,000 | 14,000,000 | 141 |
Java exports, besides the articles named, camphire from Sumatra and the Celebes. Edible bird’s-nests, beeswax, gold dust, precious stones, saltpetre, teak and other timber, and cabinet woods, tobacco, stic-lac, brass, European, India and China goods; tin, from Banka, &c.; benzoin, bichos do mar, rattans, die-woods from Borneo and Sumatra, sandal and other fine woods, pungent oils, horses, Bali clothes, elephants’ teeth, Japan, copper, leather, areca-nuts, cubebs, boots, shoes, &c.