Directory_and_Chronicle_1904 — Page 1645

NETHERLANDS INDIA

701

It is forbidden to keep a stock of opium not derived from the "réie" and the mono- poly of the Government is strongly protected by penalties. The revenue of the opium monopoly is calculated for 1903 at 18,141,000 guilders, of which 12,251,000 are from the

regie.'

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. Two private companies hold concessions for tin mines, one in Billiton and the other in Singkep; the first Billiton, pays a duty for the farming of the mines. The total quantity produced in 1902 by the Government mines in Banka was 10,323,687 kilogrammes, valued at 14,405,260 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 f.025 of f 0.10 andf.005 bearing Malay and Javanese inscriptions, and copper coins of f.0·025 (2) cent), £.01 (one cent) and f.0005 († cent). 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, £.200, f.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 1,319 officers and 32,912 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 there 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 3,000 men, mostly Europeans, and a few natives and foreign Orientals. The officers get a commission from the Governor-General.

b.-The Legion of the Native Prince Mangkoe Negoro, consisting of infantry and cavalry, numbering about 800 men.

c.--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.

d.-Dragoon Guards of the Soesoehoenan of Soerakarta and the Sultan of Djog-

jokarta.

.--Police soldiers.

The Netherlands Navy in these Colonies numbers 253 officers and 2,552 European and 1,077 native non-commissioned officers and sailors, and consists of 27 men-of-war. There is, besides, the Colonial Navy, consisting of 22 smaller ships with 115 Europeans and 562 natives, employed for civil service duties.

PUBLIC WORSHIP, EDUCATION

The Protestant clergymen are appointed by the Queen; they are 41 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, Samarang, and Soerabaia are schools for higher education; Batavia and Soerabaia have also a school for mechanical engineers, etc. There are, further, 134 Government schools and 26 private schools in Java and 39 Govern- ment schools and one private school in the other islands, having on the 31st December, 1902, 20,430 pupils, among whom were 2,628 native children. Five colleges are devoted to the instruction of native schoolmasters, while 598 Government vernacular schools and 965 private vernacular schools give instruction to upwards of 118,975 pupils. The greater number of these private schools are managed by missionaries. In Batavia Djokjakarta, Soerabaja and Samarang are private schools for mechanical engineers and handicraft.

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