Directory_and_Chronicle_1898 — Page 919

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NETHERLANDS INDIA

revenue of the opium monopoly is calculated for 1897 at 17,110,000 guilders, of which 2,000,000 are from the "regie.'

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The tin mines of Banka are exclusively worked by Government; the management of the exploration, the melting of the ore, and the transport of the tin to the godowns being in the hands of Chinese mining corporations (kongsi's) or of private contractors and their labourers. A private company holds a concession for the tin mines in Billiton, and pays a duty for the farming of the mines. The quantity exported in 1896 was 11,978,807 kilogrammes, valued at 8,890,216 guilders.

The monetary system of Netherlands India consists of gold coins of the value of ten guilders, silver coins of two guilders and a half, of one guilder, and of half a guilder (these coins are the same as those in the Netherlands); besides silver coins of 1.025 and f.010, bearing Malay and Javanese inscriptions, and copper coins of f.001 (one cent), of f.0025 and f.0005. The issue of Bank notes is a monopoly of the Java Bank. These Bank notes are of the value of f.1,000, f.500, f.300, f.200, £.100, f.50, f.25, f.10, and f.5, and payable to bearer on demand. The head office of the Java Bank is at Batavia, and there are agencies at Cheribon, Semarang, Soerabaia, Soera- karta, Djogjokarta, Padang, and Macasser.

ARMY AND NAVY.

The Army of Netherlands India numbers 1,376 officers and 38,593 non-commissioned officers and men. It is separate from and independent of the Netherlands Army. The Commandant is appointed by the Queen. Besides the Army are different armed troops, viz:

a.-The "Schuttery," being guards residing in some of the larger places designed to co-operate with the Army in maintaining the peace. These guards number about 4,000 men, mostly Europeans, and a few natives and foreign orientals. The officers get a commission from the Governor-General.

h.--Pradjoerits, 2,000 men, being native infantry under the orders of the Regents, drilled by European non-commissioned officers.

c.--The Legion of the Native Prince Mangkoe Negoro, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, numbering 600 or 700 men.

d.—Barisan, being native infantry of Madoera, 1,400 men, designed to maintain the peace in the island. In case of war in other islands they also participate in the campaigns.

-Dragoon Guards of the Soesochoenan of Soerakarta and the Sultan of Djog

jokarta.

f.--Police soldiers in some Residencies except those of Java and Madoera. They are drilled by Europeans and are at the disposal of the Residents.

The Navy numbers 270 officers and 2,588 European and 1,198 native non-com- missioned officers and sailors, and consists of 21 men-of-war. There is, besides, the Colonial Navy, consisting of 29 smaller ships with 121 Europeans and 695 natives, employed for transport duty and for maintaining the peace in the waters of the Archipelago.

PUBLIC WORSHIP, EDUCATION.

The Protestant clergymen are appointed by the Queen; they are 39 in number. The Roman Catholic priests are appointed by the Pope and recognized by or in the name of the Queen. The Jews have no priests and are so few that in no place have they a synagogue. The Government does not interfere with Mahommedan worship, but pilgrims to Mecca require to take out passports and are obliged to prove that they have sufficient money to pay for the voyage and to support their families during their absence. Chinese religion is as free as all other kinds of public worship.

The Educational Department sustains a great many schools for Europeans and natives. At Batavia, Semarang, and Soerabaià are schools for higher education; in Soerabain is also a school for telegraph operators, mechanical engineers, etc. There are, further, 124 Government schools and 18 private schools in Jaya and 38 Govern- ment schools and one private school in the other islands, having on the 31st December, 1896, 17,250 pupils, among whom were 1,189 native children. Six colleges are devoted to the instruction of native schoolmasters, while 501 Government vernacular schools and 632 private vernacular schools give instruction to upwards of 123,717 pupils. The greater number of these private schools are managed by missionaries. In Batavia and Samarang are private schools for mechanical engineers and manual labour.

In a great many places private persons can be admitted into the military hospitals, while in the large towns hospitals are maintained for poor natives and Chinese and others for infectious diseases. Asylums for the insane are maintained at Buitenzorg, Soerabaia, and Semarang.

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