Directory_and_Chronicle_1901 — Page 1046

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 about 141° E. longitude. They comprise Sumatra with adjacent islands, the archipelago of Bintang or Riouw, the archipelago of Lingga, the Karimon, Tambelan, Ananibas, and Natoena islands, the Islands Banka and Billiton, 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 32,3975 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, Japanese), and natives, with those who are considered equal to them (Chinese, Klings, Arabs, &c.) On the 31st December, 1896, the total number of Europeans and of those who are considered to be equal to them was 63,833, not including 17,532 in the Army and 2,447 in the Navy. They are of different nationalities. On the 31st December, 1895, there were 11,278 Dutchmen, born in Europe, 1,192 Germans, 292 Belgians, 318 Englishmen, 300 French- men, 184 Swiss, a few from different countries in Europe, America, &c., and 48,999 descendants of Europeans and half-castes born in Netherlands India. The number of Chinese in Netherlands India on the 31st December, 1896, was 484,398, of whom 261,080 were in Java and Madoera. The natives on the same date numbered 25,791,953 in Java and Madoera, and the total number of natives on all the other islands together was then calculated at 5,924,001. The number of Arabs was 25,278, of whom 17,045 were in Java and Madoera, and that of other foreign Orientals (Moors, Bengalese, Klings, Malays, and African negroes) 12,143, of whom 3,238 were in Java and Madoera. The increase of the population from 1871 to 1897 was for the Europeans 80 per cent., Chinese 87 per cent., and Arabs 99 per cent.

A great part ofthe Europeans are employed in or retired from the Government service; next in number are the planters, traders and industrials. 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 56,000 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 Billiton. 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 United 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 make treaties with Indian princes, to make 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 the Governor-General, J. P. Coen, made a fortress which he called Batavia (1619).