ACCOUNT OF JAVA AND BATAVIA.

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dignity, upon the condition, however, of his furnilhing a certain annual fum of moneyfor the fupport of his imprifoned predeceffor.

The fourth empire is that of the Soefoehoenam, or Emperor of Java, which is oftencalled Soefoehoenam Mataram, from the place of his refidence. This empire compre-hended of old the greateff part of the illand : that of Cheribon once formed part of it,and it was then very powerful, but, fince our nation has been eftablilhed here, it hasloll much of its lullre and importance. Yet it remained undivided till about the middleof the prefent century, when the Emperor , found himfelf fo much embarraffed, in con-fequence of the rebellion of Manko Boeni, a Prince of the Blood, that he made a ceffionof his territories to the Company, who, in return, granted him the half back again astheir vaffal, and promifed him their protection, engaging at the fame time never to makeany one Emperor of Java who was not a Prince of the Imperial family.

The empire being thus fplit into two parts, the other half was, in the fame manner,given to Manko Boeni, as the Company’s vaffal, under the title of Sultan, with thelike promife of protection, and the like engagement, never to nominate any other than.Princes of his family, as fuccelfors to his dignity. This other half, therefore, conlti-tutes the fifth empire cf Java.

To thefe may be added a fixth, though it does not properly belong to Java, being afeparate illand, but clofe to it. I mean the illand and principality of Madura, which isdivided from Java by a narrow fbrait- It is under the government of a Prince, whois equally a vaffal of the Company, who, on this account, alfo difpofe refpecting thefucceffion.

All thefe Princes are under engagements (as has already been noticed with refpeftto Bantam and to Cheribon) to deliver the produce of their refpedtive countries to theCompany alone, and not to fell any of it to any other nation ; likewife, not to enterinto any connections or treaties with other powers ; and great care is taken to enforcethefe conditions by the Company, whofe numerous forts and garrifons along the wholenorth coall of Java, render the contravention of them extremely difficult, if not whollyimpoffible, to the native Princes.

Were they, however, all to unite againlt the Company, the latter would be in a verydifagreeable predicament; but their mutual and unceafing jealoufi.es and animofities arefafeguards againlt this. Though the Company’s government do not perhaps foment,yet they do not extinguilh the flames of difcord ; which being always kept fmoulder-ing, make one native Prince prevent whatever another may defign againll the Company,by giving them immediate advice thereof.

It was likewife for very folid political reafons, that the empire of Java was allowed, orrather contrived, to be divided into two Hates ; for fuch an extent of territory as itformerly comprehended, would always have made whoever was its foie mailer a dan-gerous neighbour to the Company, whereas being now under the dominion of twodifferent men, who are likewife irreconcileable enemies, it is eafily kept in entirefubjecticn.

CHAP. II. — Situation of Java. — Climate. — Land and Sea Winds. — Monfoons. —-

Thunderjlorms. — Rivers. — Productions. — Pepper. — Rice. — Sugar. — Coffee .—

Cotton Yarn. — Salt. — Indigo. — Timber. — Fruits. — Vajl Variety of them. — The

Natives. — Their Character. — Drefs. — Cufioms. •— Dwellings . — Food, — Diver-fions. — Religion. — Phyficians. — Agriculture.

JAVA is fituated, as we have before obferved, to the fouth of the equator, in aclimate, which was thought uninhabitable by the ancients, on account of the fcorching

9 heat,