The island is divided into east, west, and middle Java, containing 22 subdivisions, called residencies, over which a superior European official, the resident, exercises general and acts as judge, collector, and magistrate. The resident has European assistants, who perform the same functions in districts of the residency; and native, aiioncy is also extensively employed in the government service, all the chiefs being either present or expectant salaried servants of the colonial government, actually engaged, under European superintendence, in ruling the masses: The chief native ollicial of a district is the regent, selected from the family of the former local prince, and retained in office so long as he promotes the interests of the government.
The material prosperity of Java is owing in a great measure to the energy with which the Dutch government has extended the growth and manufacture of those articles which form its staple exports. By an elaborate and skillfully worked-out system of culture, introduced in 1830, the growth and preparation of the staples for exportation have advanced with amazing rapidity. The cultivators of the soil. the native chiefs, the European officials, and the government all share in the profits, and work harmoniously together in developing the capabilities of the land. In carrying out the extensive mercantile transactions which the culture-system involved. the government has been ably assisted by the Netherlands trading company, and the result has been the changing a burdensome colony into a mine of wealth. Between 1824 and 1833 the expenditure exceeded the income. From that time the finances of Java have been prosperous, and the colony has transmitted to the Netherlands since 1838 a sum not short of £30,000,000 sterling. In 30 years the revenue rose from an average of £2,500,000 sterling to £9,500,000 in 1857, in which year the net surplus was £3,500,000; since then a more liberal policy has been followed, and the surplus has decreased. Railways are being constructed, and from 1867 to 1875. 165 in. were opened.
the exception of sonic marshy districts on the n. coast, the climate of Java is healthy and pleasant. On the coasts the thermometer seldom indicates more than 93° F. during the dry, and 84° in the rainy season. The average is 80° at noon, and 70° in the evening. The heat is moderated by the sea-breezes, which constantly blow across the island. Along the high lands of the interior the air is not only breezy,
hut sometimes cold, the thermometer frequently falling to 45°: and as the entire island is intersected with excellent roads, it is not difficult to reach the most beautiful and salubrious districts. Inland of Semerang, at an elevation of 4,000 ft., Europeans enjoy a pleasant retreat during the dry season.
Hitstory.—The, history of Java, previous to the 14th c., is involved in fable and obscurity. It appears, however, that the ,Tavanese, from a 'eery early period, possessed a considerable degree of civilization, which was probably the result of the labors of Brahmanical teachers from Hindustan. It is impossible to say precisely when Hindu civilization and religion were introduced into Java, though it must have,been very early in the Christian era. Buddhism was snperadded; and there are many old Buddhist temples scattered throughout the island, memorials of the former prevalence of that religion. The most famous is that called Boro Buddor (q v.). Towards the close of the 14th e., Mohammedanism found a footing in the eastern provinces; and in 1475, the Hindu empire was overthrown, and Mohammedanism became the faith of the country; vet as late as 1511, when the Portuguese first visited Java, they found a Hindu king in Bautiun. In 1595 the Dutch sent out an expedition under Houtman, who, on arriving at Bantam, found the king at war with the Portuguese, and offered him assistance, obtain ing in return permission to build a factory. In 1677, after many contests with the princes, the Dutch obtained extensive territories' and important trading concessions. In 1811, when Holland became incorporated with France, the British took possession of Java, which, after five years' occupation, was restored to the Dutch. A long and bloody war ended in the whole island becoming virtually a Dutch province in 1830, though two sfates are still nominally ruled by native princes. Slavery was totally abolished in the island Sept. 20, 1830, by the legislature of Holland.—Sec Sir Stamford Raffles's History of Jaya (2 vols. London, 1817); Crawford's Eastern Archipelago; Java, or how to Manage is Colony, by J. W. B. Money. See NETHERLANDS TRADING COMPANY. On Jan. 1, 1874, the pop. of the residencies or governmental divisions amounted to: In 1864 the pop. of Java and Madura was 13,917,368; in 1874 it had risen to 17,786,118.