JOKJAKARTA or JOKYAKARTA (Dutch Djokja karta), a residency in Central Java, Dutch East Indies, area 3,168 sq.km., also the name of the capital. It is triangular in form, with a long coast-line, fronting the Indian ocean, and extends inland to the neighbourhood of Gunong Merapi, being bounded on the E. by Surakarta residency and on the W. by Kedu. Jok jakarta is mountainous in the north-west and there are hills (Kidul) along by the coast in the east, but between these regions, in the plains, well watered by the rivers Praga and Upak, are some of the most fertile and well-cultivated lands in Java, famed for their crops of tobacco and sugar-cane, whilst rice flourishes and other food plants do well; there are also small teak forests. Coal has been found in the Kidul hills, but is not worked ; man ganese is known, also marble, in coloured varieties. The residency is one of the most thickly populated in the country; 1,559,027 (193o) includes 7,317Europeans and Eurasians, and 12,842 foreign Asiatics, the natives being almost entirely Javanese, mostly living in villages, of which Wonosari and Brosot are the largest. Jokja karta is also a native Principality and has a Javanese ruler, who is known as the Sultan. His power is nominal, being subject to that of the Dutch Resident, but he is still the sovereign lord of the land and derives revenue therefrom for himself, his vassals and officials, has some judicial powers, great privileges and a large official salary. He has no rights, however, over the teak forests, the opium trade, the edible birds-nest cliffs or the coin age. Another native prince, Paku Alam, retains certain privi leges. Jokjakarta is (with Surakarta) the only portion of Java where any semblance of native rule is maintained and where the interesting manners and customs of the Javanese of former days are still largely preserved. From the earliest days of European settlements in Java, Jokjakarta was a thorn in the side of first the Dutch, then the British under Raffles, and again the Dutch. (See JAVA.) The residency is well served with roads in the south-west and centre, but communications are poor in the difficult hilly country in the south-east. The railway from Batavia to Surabaya
runs through Jokjakarta, the principal station being the capital (which has a population [193o] of Europeans and Eurasians), and Jokjakarta, the city, is connected by rail with Semarang, via Magelang. Pleasantly situated, about 20 m. from the sea, Jokjakarta is the seat of the Dutch Resident and the Sultan, who has an imposing palace, situated within the Kraton, an extensive citadel, a mile square, in the heart of the city, and here a native court is maintained with much ceremonial. The Kraton is strictly private and may be visited only by permission, at certain times, on certain days. Prince Paku Alam also has his palace in Jokjakarta. The streets of Jokjakarta are wide, well-kept, and some tree-planted, and apart from the old Dutch town and fort, there are many quite imposing business premises, shops and public buildings in European style, and a river with steep banks, flowing through its midst, lends to it a very picturesque touch. There is an extremely interesting native market-place and bazaar, famed throughout Java; also some ornamental gardens (Taman Sari), an Oriental Trianon, designed by a Portuguese in mid 18th century for Sultan Mangku Bumi, now in a state of ruin. Four miles S.E. of Jokjakarta is Pasar Gedeh, a large village famed for its craftsmen in gold and silver, copper-work and leather carving, and here are graves of some of the Sultans of Jokjakarta, dated 1509-79 and decadent in style ; others are to be seen (to gether with those of the Sultans of Surakarta) at Imogiri, some 6 m. further south. Permission is needed to visit either. Jokja karta is the best-known centre for visiting Boro Budur and Pram banam, and from it there is easy access to the coast, where, at various points, Nyabi Kidul, Rongkob and Selarong, there are sacred grottoes, and at Parang Tritis, a popular seaside resort.
(E. E. L.)