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a system which has led to such great results。
Taking it as a whole； and surveying it front every point of view； Java is probably the very finest and most interesting tropical island in the world。 It is not first in size； but it is more than 600 miles long； and from 60 to 120 miles wide； and in area is nearly equal to England； and it is undoubtedly the most fertile； the most productive； and the most populous island within the tropics。 Its whole surface is magnificently varied with mountain and forest scenery。 It possesses thirty…eight volcanic mountains； several of which rise to ten or twelve thousand feet high。 Some of these are in constant activity； and one or other of them displays almost every phenomenon produced by the action of subterranean fires； except regular lava streams； which never occur in Java。 The abundant moisture and tropical heat of the climate causes these mountains to be clothed with luxuriant vegetation； often to their very summits； while forests and plantations cover their lower slopes。 The animal productions； especially the birds and insects； are beautiful and varied； and present many peculiar forms found nowhere else upon the globe。
The soil throughout the island is exceedingly fertile； and all the productions of the tropics； together with many of the temperate zones； can be easily cultivated。 Java too possesses a civilization； a history and antiquities of its own； of great interest。 The Brahminical religion flourished in it from an epoch of unknown antiquity until about the year 1478； when that of Mahomet superseded it。 The former religion was accompanied by a civilization which has not been equalled by the conquerors； for； scattered through the country； especially in the eastern part of it； are found buried in lofty forests； temples； tombs； and statues of great beauty and grandeur； and the remains of extensive cities； where the tiger； the rhinoceros； and the wild bull now roam undisturbed。 A modern civilization of another type is now spreading over the land。 Good roads run through the country from end to end； European and native rulers work harmoniously together； and life and property are as well secured as in the best governed states of Europe。 I believe； therefore； that Java may fairly claim to be the finest tropical island in the world； and equally interesting to the tourist seeking after new and beautiful scenes； to the naturalist who desires to examine the variety and beauty of tropical nature； or to the moralist and the politician who want to solve the problem of how man may be best governed under new and varied conditions。
The Dutch mail steamer brought me from Ternate to Sourabaya； the chief town and port in the eastern part of Java； and after a fortnight spent in packing up and sending off my last collections； I started on a short journey into the interior。 Travelling in Java is very luxurious but very expensive； the only way being to hire or borrow a carriage； and then pay half a crown a mile for post…horses； which are changed at regular posts every six miles； and will carry you at the rate of ten miles an hour from one end of the island to the other。 Bullock carts or coolies are required to carry all extra baggage。 As this kind of travelling world not suit my means； I determined on making only a short journey to the district at the foot of Mount Arjuna； where I was told there were extensive forests； and where I hoped to be able to make some good collections。 The country for many miles behind Sourabaya is perfectly flat and everywhere cultivated； being a delta or alluvial plain； watered by many branching streams。 Immediately around the town the evident signs of wealth and of an industrious population were very pleasing； but as we went on； the constant succession of open fields skirted by rows of bamboos； with here and there the white buildings and a tall chimney of a sugar…mill； became monotonous。 The roads run in straight lines for several miles at a stretch； and are bordered by rows of dusty tamarind…trees。 At each mile there are little guardhouses； where a policeman is stationed； and there is a wooden gong； which by means of concerted signals may be made to convey information over the country with great rapidity。 About every six or seven miles is the post…house； where the horses are changed as quickly as were those of the mail in the old coaching days in England。
I stopped at Modjokerto； a small town about forty miles south of Sourabaya； and the nearest point on the high road to the district I wished to visit。 I had a letter of introduction to Mr。 Ball； an Englishman； long resident in Java and married to a Dutch lady； and he kindly invited me to stay with him until I could fix on a place to suit me。 A Dutch Assistant Resident as well as a Regent or native Javanese prince lived here。 The town was neat； and had a nice open grassy space like a village green； on which stood a magnificent fig…tree （allied to the Banyan of India； but more lofty）； under whose shade a kind of market is continually held； and where the inhabitants meet together to lounge and chat。 The day after my arrival； Mr。 Ball drove me over to the village of Modjo…agong； where he was building a house and premises for the tobacco trade； which is carried on here by a system of native cultivation and advance purchase； somewhat similar to the indigo trade in British India。 On our way we stayed to look at a fragment of the ruins of the ancient city of Modjo…pahit； consisting of two lofty brick masses； apparently the sides of a gateway。 The extreme perfection and beauty of the brickwork astonished me。 The bricks are exceedingly fine and hard； with sharp angles and true surfaces。 They are laid with great exactness； without visible mortar or cement； yet somehow fastened together so that the joints are hardly perceptible； and sometimes the two surfaces coalesce in a most incomprehensible manner。
Such admirable brickwork I have never seen before or since。 There was no sculpture here； but an abundance of bold projections and finely…worked mouldings。 Traces of buildings exist for many miles in every direction； and almost every road and pathway shows a foundation of brickwork beneath itthe paved roads of the old city。 In the house of the Waidono or district chief at Modjo… agong； I saw a beautiful figure carved in high relief out of a block of lava； and which had been found buried in the ground near the village。 On my expressing a wish to obtain some such specimen； Mr。 B。 asked the chief for it； and much to my surprise he immediately gave it me。 It represented the Hindu goddess Durga； called in Java； Lora Jonggrang （the exalted virgin）。 She has eight arms； and stands on the back of a kneeling bull。 Her lower right hand holds the tail of the bull； while the corresponding left hand grasps the hair of a captive； Dewth Mahikusor； the personification of vice； who has attempted to slay her bull。 He has a cord round his waist； and crouches at her feet in an attitude of supplication。 The other hands of the goddess hold； on her right side； a double hook or small anchor； a broad straight sword； and a noose of thick cord； on her left； a girdle or armlet of large beads or shells； an unstrung bow； and a standard or war flag。 This deity was a