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
"There are many kingdoms along the maritime parts, some of them
subordinate to the others; and beginning at the east (head of the hog),
we will set down the names of such as are known: _Ovalle_, _Paneruca_,
_Agasai_, _Sodayo_, _Paniao_ (whose sovereign resides thirty leagues
inland, and is a kind of emperor over these and others hereafter
mentioned), _Tabao_, _Berdoao_, _Cajoao_, _Japara_ (whose principal
city or town is called Cerinhama, three leagues inland, while Japara
is situated on the sea shore), _Damo_, _Margao_, _Banta_, _Sunda_,
_Andreguir_ (where there is much pepper, which is exported by a river
called Jande). In the mountainous interior there are many kings, called
_Gunos_; they live among rugged mountains, are savage and brutal, and
many of them eat human flesh."
"These mountains are exceedingly high, and some of them emit flames
like the island of Ternati. Every one of these kingdoms which we have
named has a language of its own; yet they mutually understand each
other, as we do the Spaniards and Galicians.
"The kingdom of Sunda is thriving and abundant; it lies between Java
and Sumatra, having between it and the latter the Straits of _Sunda_.
Many islands lie along the coast of this kingdom within the Straits,
for nearly the space of forty leagues, which in the widest are about
twenty-five, and in others only twelve leagues broad. _Banta_ is about
the middle distance. All the islands are well timbered, but have little
water. A small one, called _Macar_, at the entrance of the Straits, is
said to have much gold.
"The principal ports of the kingdom of _Sunda_ are _Banta_, _Aché_,
_Chacatara_ (or, by another name, _Caravao_), to which every year
resort about twenty _Sommas_, which are a kind of vessel belonging to
_Chienhec_ (Cochin China), out of the maritime provinces of China, to
load pepper. For this kingdom produces eight thousand _bahars_, which
are equal to thirty thousand quintals of pepper annually.
"Bantam is situated in six degrees of south latitude, in the middle of
a fine bay, which is three leagues from point to point. The town in
length, stretching landward, is eight hundred and fifty fathoms, and
the seaport extends about four hundred. A river capable of admitting
junks and galleys, flows through the middle of the town: a small branch
of this river admits boats and small craft.
"There is a brick fort, the walls of which are seven palms thick, with
wooden bulwarks, armed with two tiers of artillery. The anchorage is
good; in some places a muddy, in others a sandy bottom, the depth from
two to six fathoms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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