ACCOUNT OF JAVA AND BATAVIA.

2I 5

The ifland of Edam lies about three leagues north-north-eaft from Batavia. It isabout half an hour’s walk in circumference. It is very woody, and has abundance oflarge and ancient trees. Among them is one, the trunk of which is fo large thattwenty men with their arms extended are not enough to encompafs it; its outwardbranches fhoot downwards, and taking root, as foon as they reach the earth, grow upagain into trees; I faw fome of them that were already two feet thick; it is efteemedholy by the Javanefe, and is much venerated by them*. The Company have fomewarehoufes on this ifland for fait; but the chief ufe they make of it, is as a place ofexile for criminals, who are employed in making of cordage j and over whom a Ihip’scaptain is placed as commandant.

* This is the banian-tree, ficus indiea, or Indian fig-tree. Ta.