Page 546
518
Appendix No. 9.
NETHERLANDS.
retains the water, and allows it to lie on the fields, according to the weather, the overflow passing into the stream, with which each village is watered, for water is as much a necessity of the Javanese as the air they breathe.
"This close nature of the country makes Java a second Vendée, with a succession of Even if positions and natural obstacles, and is, perhaps, even more suited than it for the defensive. here and there an isolated dwelling is found, still it is always on a river or a brook or something of the sort, and always surrounded by a hedge.
From the above-described nature of the country in Java it will be seen how peculiarly adapted it is for defence, but owing to the considerable extent of the accessible coast, it should be held by a considerable force, in order to be everywhere prepared for eventualities."
To return to the more general description, the whole area, both mountain and plains, is covered, except where cleared by human cultivation, with luxuriant tropical forest. The principal rivers are in Java, the Solo and Kediri, of no great commercial importance; in Sumatra, the Indragiri, the Djambi, and the Palembang; in Borneo there are more important rivers, as large as the Rhine: the Barito, or Bandjermassin, the Kapoeas, or Pontianak, the Mahakkan or Koetei, but even the larger rivers have a less commercial value than their length and size would appear to justify, from the absence of internal affluents, and from the shoal nature of their mouths; in fact, much of the coast and river system of the Indian Archipelago is rather the domain of gun-boats than heavy draught iron-clads.
Climate.
The Dutch Archipelago lies in the region of the north and south tropical monsoons, and the belt of intermediate calms. Thus harbours safe at one season of the year are the reverse during the other. The cast winds are generally dry; the west coming over the Indian Ocean, wet; the land and sea breeze prevails on the coasts. The temperature, of course, varies with the elevation, but in the lower belt, where is the greater portion of the cultivation and commerce, the temperature, which is nearly the same all the year round, averages in April 81°, and the climate may be classed as very unhealthy for Europeans. At Batavia, for instance, which has been called the "seaman's grave," the merchants have only offices; they reside in suburbs, on higher ground. The average of sickness among troops during campaigns has been estimated for natives at 4 to 5 per cent; for Africans at 7 to 8 per cent.; for Europeans 10 per cent.; but this last has been as high as 16 per cent.; the principal causes of disease are cholera, dysentery, and fever.
Vegetable Productions.
With these in the present paper we need not concern ourselves, except to point out that in the extensive forests there are many trees adapted for shipbuilding, notably the teak, which rivals the oak. Teak forests are preserved, owned by Government or under Government superintendence. One of the principal forests is in the district of Rembang, in Java, and the principal timber-yard is at Grissée, near Soerabaia.
The principal article of food is rice, produced in quantities far in excess of the wants of the population. One-ninth of Java is under rice cultivation. The richest and most highly cultivated district is the narrowest portion of Java: Tegal, Pekalongan, Banjoemas.
Minerals.*
The principal mineral is tin, produced in Banka; the capture of these islands would, therefore, deprive Holland of an important source of revenue. The iron and coal production are as yet but imperfectly developed, although both these minerals are said to exist in many places. Either owing to deficiency of quality, quantity, or distance from markets, the chief point being that in the matter of coal, on which more details will be given later, the Dutch East Indies are very far from being independent of the European supply, viâ Batavia or Singapore.
Strength and Distribution of the Army.
The composition of the army varies somewhat in various years, but may generally be said to be composed as follows :---
The regular army is, as far as the officers are concerned, composed chiefly of Netherlands subjects. Of the men about half are of European birth, the remainder natives. Of the European portion from one- half to three-quarters are at various periods Dutch, and from one-quarter to one-half Belgians, Germans, Swiss, and French. The European and native companies are joined in the same regiments, there being a larger proportion of Europeans in the field army. Very various opinions are expressed of the qualities of this army, from accusations of its being composed, as far as the Europeans are concerned, of every scoundrel in Europe, to praises of its high soldierlike qualities. But it is evident that in an army composed partly of foreign mercenaries and partly of natives, the mercenaries may again, as they have been known to do, mutiny, and the native portion run away.
According to the latest available Returns the regular army was composed as follows: Infantry, about 25,400 men, 800 officers, 11,000 Europeans and 13,600 native soldiers. Cavalry, about 900, Europeans and natives about equal.
Artillery, 93 officers, 2,000 Europeans, 1,200 natives in field and mountain and mixed ditto, the gunners principally Europeans, the drivers natives; in fortress artillery and garrison European gunners rather predominating.
The infantry is divided into eighteen field battalions, highest about 630 men, total about 11,000 men; four depot battalions of a total strength of 2,700 men; ten garrison battalions, and nine garrison companies of very various strengths, and natives largely predominating, forming the remainder.
* Detailed information given in the annual publication "Jaarboek van het mijnwezen in N.O.I.”
Page 546
Page 546
Page 546