DUTCH. This name, in the English language, is given to the people of Holland, who call their own country Niederland or Netherland. They have occupied parts of the Ea.st Indies since the middle of the 16th century. Ceylon was occupied by the Portuguese in 1596, but was taken posses sion of by the Dutch in 1658, and by the British in 1797. They had small possessions on the con tinent of India, chiefly near Cochin. They bad taken Malacca, Nanning, and neighbonring sites, but some of these were retaken by arms by the British, and others were obtained from them by negotiation under the treaty of 17th March 1824. At present" they occupy or hold under feudatories a great part of the Eastern .Archipelago, and their territories there are styled the Dutch East Indies, also the Dutch Indies, also the Netherlands Posses sions in India, and Netherlands India. This nation first came to the Eastern Archipelago as the servants of the Portuguese. Their first expedition on their own account (consisting of four ships) sailed from Holland in 1595, with Cornelis Houtman as super cargo. They reached Bantam in 1596, where Houtman was itnprisoned for some time. On this voyage they touched at Madera (Hitoe Lama or Amboyna was not visited by Houtinan). Pieter Both, the first governor-general, was appointed in 1610. The seat of his government was estab lished in Fort Jacatra. During the administration of Jan Pieters Koen, the fourth governor-general, this was changed to Batavia. In 1749, the Susunan of Mataram (after the fall of Majaphit, the most powerful native prince in Java) trans ferred to. the Dutch the civil and inilitary juris diction of his kingdom. He was at that time at war with his brother Mangkoe Boemi. The war lasted till 1755, and the Mataram territory was then apportioned to the brothers,—Surakarta to the Susnnan, and Jokyokarta, with the title of sultan, to Mangkoe Boemi. These two principali ties continue independent of each other to the present, although diminished in extent.
The Dutch possessions in Netherlands India comprise subjeet and feudatory states. The former is Netherlands India proper, and consists of Java and Madera, arranged into 23 civil districts. In the tributary states the old reigning families remain, but in every state a resident is appointed, and under his superintendence the native admini-. stration is canied-on, nauch in the same way as is done under similar circumstances in India. Some states, which have not been subdued, are under treaty engagements.
The area of the principal islands of Netherlands India, according to Baron Melville Van Carnbee, 445,411 square English geographical miles. Popu lation, 23 millions.
Sq. ms. Sq. ras. Sq. Ins.
Java&Madura,38,251 Celebea, . . 67,248 Tenimber Is., 2,400 Sumatra, . 128,560 Buton, . . 1,379 Aru Islands, . 1,040 Pula Nias, . 1,200 Bali, . . . 16,848 Is. of Banda, . 17 Babi, . . . 480 Lombok, . 16,500 Ceram, . . 4,944 . . . 560 Sumbawa,. . 4,448 Burn, . . . 2,624 Banea, . . 3,568 Floris, . . . 4,032 Gilolo, . . 5,016 . . 1,904 Timur, . . 9,303 Baehian, . . 800 111"W, • • ••• Sandal-wood Ternate, . . 11 I3orneo, . 203,888 Islands,. .. 3,784 mbayna, . 2,128 fp. tl,e year 1880 the population of the two divisions of Netherlands India was as under :— The army of 30,000 men which Holland maintains in these dependencies is entirely distinct from that in Europe. It is under the Minister for the Colonies, and is commanded by a Lieut.-General, whose position is next to that of the Governor-General. The islands have military commands :— Three divisions in Java, with their headquarters at Batavia, Samarang, and Sourabaya.
One division for 1Vest Sutnatra and its depend encies, headquarters at Padang. Tho districts of Latnpong, Palembang, Hanka, Kiow, and depend encies.
The W. division of Borneo, headquarters Pontinak.
The E. and S. division of Borneo, headquarters Bandjermasin.
Celebes, headquarters Macassar.
The Moluccas, headquarters Amboyna.