ACCOUNT OF JAVA AND BATAVIA.
181
the elegance of the grounds. Mofl of the houfes belonging to them, have theirfronts towards the road, and from the back rooms they have a profpe£t of the river ofJaccatra.
This road is nearly two hundred feet broad, and is clofely planted with trees. Ido not know that 1 ever beheld a more delightful avenue. It terminates at a fmallfort, which is called Jaccatra, fituated about half a Dutch mile from Batavia, andthough the road is continued thence to Weltevreeden, the country-feat of the governorgeneral, and beyond it farther into the country, it affumes, on the other fide ofJaccatra, the name of Goenong Sari.
The fourth is called the Molenvliet, or mill-drain, becaufe part of the water of thegreat or Jaccatra river is diverted through a channel, along this road, for the purpofeof turning a powder-mill, which Hands fcarcely, ten minutes walk from the city. Theroad leads along the canal for full half a Dutch mile up the country, and is equallyadorned on both fides with handfome houfes and pleafant gardens. It then proceedsto Tanabang, where a large market is held every Saturday, for all kinds of provifions,which are brought thither from the interior parts.
The fifth road leads through the Chinefe Campon, alfo along a river, to Fort Ankay,and is, in like manner, bordered on both fides with gardens.
None of thefe roads nor any of the ftreets in the city are paved; the groundconfifts of a hard clay, which is made very fmooth and plain; only in the city, alongthe fides of the ftreets, by the houfes are ftone footpaths of about three or four feetin breadth *.
CHAP. IV. — Government of Batavia—Council of India — Governor-General — Diredlor-General—Counfellors of India—Council of Juftice — Board of Scheepens — Punijhments— Impalement —Mucks — Orphan Chamber — Society for the Opium Trade—Chief ofthe Marine — Commandant and Upper Comptroller of Equipment — Vice Commandant —Military — Militia — Of Ranks and Precedency — Sumptuary Laws — Clergymen —Coins — Weights — Meafures.
THE chief government of Batavia, and of all the poffeffions of the Dutch EaftIndia Company in Afia, is veiled in the council of India , with the governor-general attheir head.
This council confifted, when I was there, befides the direftor-general, of five ordi-nary counfellors, including the governor of the Cape of Good Hope , nine extraor-dinary counfellors, and two fecretaries.
Five of the extraordinary counfellors were governors of the out-fa£lories of Java’snorth-eaft coaft, Coromandel, Amboyna, Ceylon, and Macaffer.
This council determines affairs of every kind, thofe which relate to the adminiftra-tion of juftice alone excepted. Yet in civil matters, an appeal may be made from theSentence of the council of juftice to the council of India .
-All appointments and promotions to offices are effected by the council of India , notexcepting that of the governor-general; but this mult be confirmed by the affembly ofSeventeen, in the Netherlands !.
The
* The ftreets and canals at Batavia are planted on each fide with large trees ; generally the onophyllumCa 4ophyllom and calaba, the eanarium commune, and fome others ftill fcarcer. 1 r.
, T Ecclefiaftical preferments, and the appointment of the minifters of juftice, proceed immediately from*ae direction in Holland . t- 1 —r ../'i-Tomm- and director creneral. y.nd tfie five nrdinarv