The History of Java, v. 1-2Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir
History
The History of Java, v. 1-2
Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir
Java (Indonesia) -- History
As the population increases, the extent of individual appropriations is
sometimes contracted; but when there is sufficient untenanted ground in
the neighbourhood, a new village is thrown out at some distance, which
during its infancy remains under the charge, and on the responsibility
of the parent village. In time, however, it obtains a constitution of
its own, and in its turn becomes the parent of others. These dependent
villages are in the eastern districts termed _dúku_, and in the western
or _Súnda_ districts _chántilan_.
Every village forms a community within itself, having each its
village officers and priest, whose habitations are as superior to
those of others as their functions are more exalted. To complete the
establishment in most large villages, a temple is appropriated for
religious worship. Here is found that simple form of patriarchal
administration, which so forcibly strikes the imagination of the
civilized inhabitants of this quarter of the world, and which has so
long been the theme of interest and curiosity of those who have visited
the Indian continent.
In the larger villages, or chief towns of the subdivisions, in which
the _Kápala chútag_, or division-officer, resides, a square place,
corresponding with the _álun álun_ of the capital, is reserved;
and, in like manner, the mosque is found to occupy one side, and
the dwelling of the chief another. The villages, whether large or
small, are fenced in by strong hedges of _bámbu_, and other quick
growing plants. All the large towns and capitals are formed on the
same principle, each hut and dwelling being surrounded by a garden
exclusively attached to it. In this respect, they are but large
villages, although usually divided into separate jurisdictions. A
newly-formed village contains but a few families, while in the capitals
the population often amounts to several thousand souls. _Súra-kérta_,
the capital of the chief native government, though its population is
estimated to exceed one hundred thousand, may be termed an assemblage
or group of numerous villages, rather than what in European countries
would be called a town or city.
In the larger towns, however, and in the capitals, considerable
attention is paid to the due preservation of broad streets or roads
crossing in different directions. The inland capitals in the _Súnda_
districts are distinguished by an extreme neatness and regularity in
this respect; and although both these, and the greater native capitals
at _Sólo_ and _Yúgy'a-kérta_, may have been laid out principally at the
suggestion of Europeans, it may be observed, that the same conveniences
are also to be found in the extensive capital of _Banyúmas_, the
planning of which must be ascribed entirely to the natives.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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