"The China Jou A. de C. Sowerby, weer respectively of from the "Sand Sea", a flat plane:
plane is the floor of a huge rater many miles in extent' and the wallk rise a thousand fect sheer on all sides.
Next a sugar plantation and mills were visited and then the party, proceeded by railway to Djocjakarfa, che seat of one of the two remain" ing Sultans in Java, where all the pomp and ceremony of the past la still maintained in the palace, anil were there may be seen the most beautiful Javanese dancing.
Javanese dancing is slower' and, more sedate than the Balinese, 'The costumes are' gorgeous. and; the dances very ancient.. Djogja.and She de- Solo, an adjacent sulfa form. the main centre of Javat culture.
In the neighbourhood. are the finest ancient ruins of temples, such as famous Borobudue- and the Prambanan, one a: magnificent Budahist temple dating from the 8th or 12th century, andthe other equally magnificent Hisay. temple, both containing stone geulptares and has reliefs of the finest workman ship. The present day Javanese are Mohamedans and thus these relies have fallen into disrepair, although the Government archmologists are restoring them. Tu Ball the tempi are modern, a8 the Hindu religion practised, and the people have dever foped the art of stone carving to remarkable degree, Everywhere are temples to various deities of the inclu pantheon, and they make the land one of the most' beautiful spots in the world. In Java tem piles are conspicuous by' their abe sence, and only old relies remain. in the Dutch Enst Indies, which egan on July 17 yen they Shanghai on the st Tilsondari of On they stopped for a few manila where they very interested in the old Int Mares area and an aguatium junted inside one of the old fort An ethnological museum has been opened in Manila where there are on display fine collections of the utensils, clothe swords, ete. of the ila they went to Makassar in Celebes, finding it an interes ing. place which exists mainly by the trade in such articles as tatta Kapok, and kapai gum, the used in the manufacture of vary ishes. It is brought nly from the forests of Celebes and Borneo. They were also given the experienc? of a risttafel tiffin, the great dish of the Dutch East Indies, The next stop was at Sourabayn in Fi Java, from where they took the K.P.M, motor-vessel Oppir to Mr. and Mrs, Sowerby then went to Semarang, an important city oh the North Coast, from where they. went by air mail to Batavia, the chie€ port of "West Java, From there they visited Buitenzorg where most of the Government ofoes are situated, including the Governors naval's Palace, and where there fare sone world' famous, botanical gardens and a good zoological mae scum. The next trip was to Bane doong, also by air-mail, when ange of mountains was crossed and, magnificent view of the volvand chain along the southern side of Java was obtained.
After seeing Garoot, a ill stas tion surrounded by volcanoes, active and passive, and a delighttaily coat summer resort, they returned Batavia in time to see the Passat Gambir, an annual exhibition of in+ dsteial products and all the phos of native life and activities, incl ting, dancing, ete. "At the Gambir-it was possible buy numerous interesting native art objects and fabrics, a collection of obtaining, a motorcar sed a Cui [brought back to Shanghai to ahoy, the Tninnd' of Bal where eye which Mr. and. Stes.
Sowerby, hose guide. who spoke excellent their friends as it is their inten English and proved a well of infortion to have a special Java room motion, they proceeded northward in their home, across the island to Den Pasar.
In At Weltevreden, which is part of order to get there it was necessary Batavia, there is a fine ethnological to cross a high range of mountain: museum belonging to the Royal at an altitude of 5,000 fect. The|Batavian Society of Arts and of the lowlands and volcanoes where the culture of the in the interior from that height is ibos found throughout the magnificent. Various trips were ist Indies may be studied made about the island,—visiting a* well as the interesting archwolotemples, ancient caves, and scenes ical remains. One room, called the of native life.
Mr. and Mrs. Jewel Room, is devoted' to crown Sowerby were fortunate in being jewels; jewelled swords, nnd. the able to witness a special ceremonial old utensils and ornaments of the sacrifice on Int. Tabanan, held as a Various conquered sultanates, esp propitation to the god of the mouncially from the last. war with Ball, tain against any further earth-Most of the objects are of exquisite quakes, several severe ones workmanship and the total calloes been felt recently. The ceremony tion is beyond value, ludod dances; music, and the Mr. and Mrs. Sowerby left Batae pi ling up of offerings which were via on the jikarong on Augzist 27, brought by people dressed in their which returned direct to Shanghai most gorgeous elothin The women after picking up coolies, for Hong+ of Bali are very beautiful and wear kong. from the famous tin. mining sarongs only up to their waists, Islands of Billiton and Banke, At ceremonial gatherings the men Mx. Sowerby stated that the all wear swords, or which found Java in a state of trade de. have gorgeous ' ornamental hilts, pression due to the low prices of many of them in gold and covered with jewels. The dar liber, and tea, which arg 1g is beau tiful, full of Jife and action, while ug products and exports of the costumes are full of colour. The the country... It was, however, evid-visite also had the opportunity of cent that Java'is an'extremely rich seeing other dances arranged for the pleasure of the Sultan Kleengkoeng. fis the stoond greatest sugar proip' to Tosari followed their retin to Java when the nijoys. voleano crater known as the Bromo was seen.
This voleano, while. not in lent eruption, was active, sending out clouds of sulphufolis vapour from a dreadful Fgrech lake several hundred feet be-Tox.
the. lip. of the crater, Close by' Is a dead tone which is known jas the Batok, and which protrades ducer in the world and also supplies enormous quantities of quinine derived from the bark of the cin-[chona tree, which is grown in large estates high up in the mountains, The whole country is fed. withi magnificent roads and it {s possible to, motor everywhere, The. peopl are all happy.as, the Dutgh, Govern ment takes ay great interest in the natives and has departments devote ed to their study and eave.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.