Directory_and_Chronicle_1897 — Page 542

NETHERLANDS INDIA.

SITUATION, AREA, POPULATION.

The Dutch possessions in Asia are situated in the Indian Archipelago, between 6 N., and 11° S. latitude and 95' 40", and 141° E. longitude. They comprise Sumatra with adjacent islands, the archipelago of Bintang or Rhio, the archipelago of Lingga, the Karimon, Tambelan, Anambas, and Natoena islands, the Islands Banka and Biliton, Java and Madoera, the southern part of Borneo, Celebes, and all the other islands eastward of Borneo and Java to 141 E. longitude, with the exception of the eastern part of Timor (Timor Deli). Java and Madoera extend over 2,3884 the other islands together over 32,397.5 geographical square miles.

With regard to the legal position, the population is divided into Europeans, with those who are considered equal to them (half-castes, Armenians, Persians), and natives with those who are considered equal to them (Chinese, Klings, Arabs, &c.) On the 31st December, 1894, the total number of Europeans and of those who are considered to be equal to them was 61,846, not including 15,867 in the Army and 2,797 in the Navy. They are of different nationalities. On the 31st December, 1893, there were 9,828 Dutchmen, born in Europe, 1,280 Germans, 269 Belgians, 265 Englishmen, 224 French- men, 173 Swiss, a few from different countries in Europe, America, &c., and 47,623 descendants of Europeans and half-castes born in Netherlands India. The number of Chinese in Netherlands India on the 31st December, 1894, was 458,106, of whom 251,325 were in Java and Madoera. The natives on the same date numbered 24,746,368 in Java and Madoera, among them 17,949 Christians, and the total number of natives on all the other islands together was then calculated at 6,933,194, among them 284,157 Christians. The number of Arabs was 24,300, of whom 16,319 were in Java and Madoera, and that of other foreign Orientals (Moors, Bengalese, Klings, Malays, and African negroes) 27,797, of whom 3,066 were in Java and Madoera. The increase of the population from 1872 to 1893 was for the Europeans 61 per cent., Chinese 53 per cent., and Arabs 66 per cent.

A great part of the Europeans are employed in or retired from the Government service; next in number are the planters and traders. The Arabs, Chinese, and other Orientals are almost all tradesmen, but it must be mentioned that some Chinese are in possession of or employed on plantations in Java, and that upwards of 43,000 Chinese are working as labourers on the tobacco estates on the East Coast of Sumatra, and that thousands of Chinese labourers are employed under European superintendence in the exploitation of the tin mines of Banka and Biliton. The natives are cultivating the soil; in the large places they also are mechanics, but the practice of the handicrafts is for the greater part in the hands of Chinese.

HISTORY, GOVERNMENT.

When the Dutch in the last years of the sixteenth century established themselves in the Archipelago they found there the Portuguese. In order to be strong against other European rivals the Dutch East Indian Company was established in 1602 by charter of the General States of the Unitd Netherlands, granting a monopoly for the trade in all the countries east of the Cape of Good Hope to the Strait of Magellan and the right to made treaties with Indian princes, to made war, build fortifications, and give commissions to civil and military officers, etc. The East Indian Company was nearly independent and disposed of large capital. The first proceedings were commercial, but soon the Company extended its power and conquered territory in Java and the Moluccos. The first "loge" was established at Bantam, then at Jakatra, where