Commencing from the west, the province, or as it is usually termed, the kingdom of Bantam (properly _Bántan_) occupies the first place. This extensive province forms a large portion of the island. It is washed on three sides by the sea. At the east it joins with the environs and highlands of Batavia and the district of _Chi-ánjur_, and on the west it is bounded by the Straits of Sunda; and in this quarter comprises dependant islands scattered along its shore, and the two harbours of _Mew_ and _Merák_, which, with other bays, deeply indent the coast. Bantam, the native capital of this province, has been latterly deserted by the European establishment for _Sírang_ (commonly called Ceram), an elevated and healthy station about seven miles further inland. Next in succession towards the east is the division of Batavia, which comprises what formerly constituted the native province of _Jákatra_ or _Jokárta_. The northern part of this division, towards the coast, includes the city of Batavia, populous and important on account of its excellent roads for shipping, its advantageous position for European commerce, and as being the long established seat of the Dutch government, but less fertile and healthy than the more eastern provinces of the island. South and east of the division of Batavia and its environs lie what are termed by Europeans the Preanger (_Priáng'en_) Regencies,[18] the central and southern districts of which, stretching from Bantam to Chéribon, are extremely mountainous. This extensive portion of the island, which now includes a large part of Chéribon, consists of the districts of _Kráwang_, _Chiásem_, _Pamanúkan_, _Kándang-aúr_, and _Dramáyu_ or _Indramáyu_, along the northern coast, and of the inland and southern districts of _Chi-ánjur_, _Bándung_, _Súmedang_, _Lim-báng'an_, and _Súka-púra_; the southern coast, from the boundary of Bantam to that of Chéribon, being included within the subdivisions of _Chi-ánjur_, and _Súka-púra_. To the eastward of these districts, and crossing the island from north to south, is the province of _Chéribon_, divided into ten principal districts. To the south is the island of _Núsa-kambáng'an_ which forms the harbour of _Cheláchap_.