ROTTI, an island in the Indian archipelago, belonging to the Dutch, lies to the s.w. of Timor, between 10° 39' and 10° 56' s. let., and 122° 57' and 123° 29' e. long.; pop. 75,000. Its greatest length, from e. to w., is 36 in. and the breadth from Termano, on the n., to Tilly, on the s., about 11 miles. The surface, though hilly, is nowhere more than 600 ft. above the sea, and the fertile soil produces a rich vegetation.
The most valuable product is the lontar palm, the wine or juice of which, either used fresh or thickened by boiling, and preserved in pots, forms a leading article of food. Next in importance is the gabang tree, which bears large quantities of fruit, in size and shape like apricots, the fiber yielding a good tow, and the pith a sort of sago. Cocoanut, plantain, banana, and mango-trees are abundant. There is a great variety of timber trees, as beautiful ebony, mahogany, and several sorts well adapted for ship building. The Rottinese plant millet, tobacco, rice, etc. Rotti is famed for a small but
noble and hardy race of horses, which are bought for exportation at about .-tn. 6s. each. There are many buffaloes, sheep, goats, swine, deer, fowls, etc. Edible nests, tripang tortoise-shell,.and wax are articles of export. Horses, swine, palm-wine, syrup, sugar, and native sail-cloth are exported to Timor, and cotton fabrics, cotton, beads, iron, iron work, powder, guns, and arraek received in exchange.
The Netherlands' missionary society have made considerable progress in Christianiz ing the natives, who are a fine-looking race, originally, it is thought, from Java. See Land en Zeetogten in Nederlands lndie, by Johannes Olivier; Ras door den Indischen Archipel, by L. J. van Rhijn.