ACCOUNT OF JAVA ANE BATAVIA.

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The native inhabitants are all commonly called Javanefe, whether they belong to thekingdom of Bantam , or to any other part of Java ; thofe of Madura bear the name of■their ifland. They are of a middling fize, and in general well-proportioned, of a lightbrown colour, with a broad forehead, and a flattifli nofe, which has a fmall curve down-wards at the tip. Their hair is black, and is always kept fmooth and Alining with•cocoa-nut-oil. They are in general proud and lazy, as well as cowardly. Theirprincipal weapon is a kris, which is a kind of dagger, like a fmall fized couteau dechajje , and which they always carry with them. The handle or hilt is made of differentmaterials more or lefs valuable, according to the wealth or dignity of the wearer.The blade is of well-hardened fteel, of a ferpentine Aiape, and thus capable of makinga large and wide wound. It is often poifoned, and in that cafe caufes immediatedeath. Arrogant towards their inferiors, they are no lefs cringing with refpedt to theirfuperiors, or whoever from whom they have any favour to expect.

Their drefs confifts in a piece,of cotton, which they wrap round the waift, anddrawing it between the legs fallen it behind. They are otherwife naked, except thatthey wear a fmall cap on the head. This is the drefs of the common people. Thofeof more confideration wear a wide Moorifh coat of Aowered cotton, or other fluff,and in general turbands, inflead of the little caps. They fuffer no hair-but that of thehead to grow, and eradicate it carefully wherever it appears elfewhere.

The drefs of the women is little better than that of the men ; it confifts in a pieceof cotton-cloth, which they call faron, and which wrapping round the body, juft coversthe bofom under which it is faftened, and hangs down to the knees, and fometimes tothe ancles ; the Aioulders and part of the back remain uncovered. The hair of thehead, which they wear very long, is turned up and twifted round the head like a fillet,faftened with long bodkins of different forts of wood, tortoifefliell, filver, or gold,according to the rank or wealth of the lady. This head-drefs is called a conde, andis alfo in vogue among the Batavian ladies. It is often likewife adorned with a varietyof flowers.

Both men and women are very fond of bathing, efpecially in the morning. Thechildren of both fexes go entirely naked, till about eight or nine years of age. Twelveor thirteen is their age of puberty.

The Javanefe are polygamifts ; they marry as many wives as they can maintain, andtake their female flaves befides for concubines. This, however, of courfe does nottake place with the common people, who mull be content with one wife, becaufe theycannot afford to keep more. The women are proportionally more comely than theraen, and they are very fond of white men. They are jealous in the extreme, andknow how to make an European, with whom they have had a love affair, and whoproves inconflant, dearly repent both his incontinence and his ficklenefs by adminif-tering certain drugs to him, by which he is difqualified from the repetition of either.People of the utmoft credibility at Batavia, have related to me too many examples ofthis refinement of female revenge to render the circumftance at all doubtful.

fokke fokkes (folanum melongena), which is of a purple blue colour, in lhape like a pear, and ofvanous f lzes . h as an agreeable tafte when boiled. Watermelons (arbufes), which are in great plenty,3nd very good. Grapes, melons, pumpkins, pomegranates, and figs, appear to be the oiily Europeannuts to be met with at Batavia : though ltrawberries, and fome others are faid to thrive in the interiorparts of the country. Tr.

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