MADURA, an island and residency of the D.E. Indies (Dutch Madoera), lying off the north-east coast of Java, from which it is separated by a shallow strait less than 1 miles. It is over noo miles long and 24 miles wide and has an area of 5,473 sq.km. Pop. 5,953,669 (1 o5 i Europeans and Eurasians). It has an un dulating surface, but no mountains, 700 ft. being the greatest elevation in the west and 1,565 ft. that of the east. In the north the hills run down nearly to the sea: in the north-west and south there are extensive alluvial plains, whilst the south coast is fringed with islets, shoals and mud-banks. The geological forma tion reveals the relation of Madura to northern Java, since it con sists largely of the same limestone rocks, of Tertiary formation, with low alluvial tracts : there are hot springs. Off the eastern coast are several islands—Sapudi, and the Kangean group, Kangean Island being 25 miles long and from 3 to 15 wide, with hills reaching 5.50o ft.
The climate, flora and fauna of Madura resemble those of East Java. Vegetation is luxuriant, but the soil is not as fertile as the average soil in Java, and one indication of this is that rice has to be imported to meet the needs of the population. Rice, maize, coconuts, coffee, coca, kapok and most of the usual Malayan fruits and vegetables are grown, and kapok, copra and coconut oil figure largely in exports, also teak, from the extensive forests in the north-west. The island is well adapted for cattle-breeding, which is engaged in extensively (in 1924 no less than 57,396 bulls, thoroughbred. were exported), and the wide expanse of coast, well sheltered on the southern side, gives opportunity for a great deal of fishing: the Kangean Islands and Sapudi yield timber, trepang and tortoise-shell. The principal industry is that of salt winning, which is a government monopoly. The salt is obtained from saline springs and from sea-water, and the largest pans are situated at Kalianget. Manufacture is according to European method and gives employment to many. The 1926 yield
was 6,620,430 piculs (1 picul = 136 lb.). Petroleum has been found and is worked on a small scale. The Madurese (Moham medans), who are keen traders, but not very good craftsmen, fishermen and sailors, are shorter, but more sturdily built than the Javanese ; they are also more independent, and quick-tempered, but thrifty and hard-working, and their moral standard is high: they have their own peculiar amusements of bull-racing and bull fighting, the races, usually held in the month of September, attract huge crowds. There are Malay and Chinese residents. The capital and seat of the Resident, is Pamekasan, in the central southern part of the island, not far from the coast, pop. 13,403 (269 Euro peans and Eurasians), which has modern buildings, including a hotel. Other towns are Sumenep, near which are the tombs of the princes of Sumenep, Bangkalan, pop. 12,359 (141 Europeans and Eurasians), with the old palace of the Sultan of Bangkalan. or Madura, and an interesting mosque, Sampang, pop. 12,673, Kamal and Kalianget. A tram line crosses the island from west to east, from Kamal to Kalianget, connection being maintained with Java by means of a ferry service between Surabaya and Kamal: the line extends to Bangkalan, in the north, and passes through Pamekasan and Sumenep. There are roads along the north and south coasts, and across the centre of the island. There is telegraphic communication with Java, and Pamekasan and Sumenep possess telephone services. Dutch influence was estab lished in Madura late in the 17th century, and the power of the ambitious prince of Madura was circumscribed by the division of the island into three regencies, Madura (or Bangkalan), Pame kasan, and Sumenep, each having its own prince, or sultan. After much native misrule, the regencies were, in 1885, united under a residency attached to Java.
See P. J. Veth, Java, geografisch, ethnologisch, historisch, 4 vols.
Haarlem, 1896-1907. (E. E. L.)