Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 3.djvu/448

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BAT—BAT

Javanese, and in I860 the "Gymnasium William III." in which a comprehensive education is bestowed. A society of arts and sciences was established in 1778, a royal physical society in 1850, and a society for the promotion of industry and agriculture in 1853. In addition to the Transactions of these societies many of which contain valuable contributions to their respective departments in their relation to the East Indies a considerable number of publications are issued in Batavia. Among miscellaneous buildings of importance may be mentioned the public-hall known as the Harmonie, the freemasons lodge, the theatre,

the club-house, and several fine hotels.

The population of Batavia is very varied, the Dutch residents being a comparatively small class, and greatly intermixed with Portuguese and Malays. Here are found members of the different Indian nations, originally slaves ; Moors and Arabs, who are principally engaged in naviga tion, but also inhabit the Rua Malacoa district, and trade in gold and precious stones ; Javanese, who are cultivators ; and Malays, chiefly boatmen and sailors, and adherents of Mahometanism. But, perhaps, the most important Asiatic element is the Chinese, who are both numerous and industrious. They were long greatly oppressed by the Dutch Government in various paltry ways, and in 1740 they were massacred to the number of 12,000. But in spite of all this they have maintained their position, and now enjoy a happier lot. In 1832 the population was found to consist of 2800 Europeans, 80,000 natives, 25,000 Chinese, 1000 Arabs, and 9500 slaves, a total of 118,300 persons. The number of inhabitants is at present much less.

Batavia is still a great commercial depot, though it has had to contend against the rivalry of Singapore. The bay is rendered secure by a number of islands at its mouth, and is capacious enough for a much larger traffic than it has ever seen ; but it unfortunately grows very shallow towards the shore. Ships of 300 or 400 tons anchor about a mile and a half out ; the river is navigable a couple of miles inland for vessels of 30 or 40 tons, but the entrance is narrow, and requires continual attention to keep it open.

The exports from Batavia to the other islands of the archipelago, and to the ports in the Malayan peninsula, are rice, sago, coffee, sugar, salt, oil, tobacco, teak timber and planks, Java cloths, brass wares, <fec., and European, Indian, and Chinese goods. The produce of the Eastern Islands is also collected at its ports for re-exportation to India, China, and Europe, namely, gold-dust, diamonds, camphor, benzoin, and other drugs ; edible bird-nests, trepang, rattans, bees wax, tortoise-shell, and dyeing woods from Borneo and Sumatra ; tin from Banca ; spices from the Moluccas ; fine cloths from Celebes and Bali ; and pepper from Sumatra. From Bengal are imported opium, drugs, and cloths ; from China, teas, raw silk, silk piece-goods, varnished umbrellas, coarse China wares, nankeen, paper, and innumerable smaller articles for the Chinese settlers. British manufactures also are largely introduced. The number of British ships that .entered in 1870 was 103, with a tonnage of nearly 31,000 tons, the total number of vessels of all nationalities being 783, with a tonnage of nearly 194,000.

Almost the only manufactures of any importance are the distillation of arrack, which is principally carried on by Chinese, the burning of lime and bricks, and the baking of pottery ; and even the brick-making is in a decaying condition. The principal establishment for monetary transactions is the Java Bank, established in 182S with a capital of 500,000 ; but there are also agencies belonging to the Bank of Rotterdam, and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, aud China, as well as a public savings bank.

The Government has a naval establishment at the island of Onrust, about six miles from the city ; and among its other accommodations is a large iron floating dock capable of holding vessels 400 feet long. Since 1869, however, entrance has been refused to merchant ships, which, consequently, feel the lack of proper docks in the harbour. Proposals to build these and to extend the harbour, though frequently under discussion, have had no result. Tram ways were introduced into the city in 1867, and are greatly patronized by the native population. A railway to Buitenzorg, where the Government botanical gardens are situated, was opened in 1871, the distance being about 40 miles inland.

Batavia owes its origin to the Dutch general John Petcrsen Coen, who, in 1619, took the town of Jacatra (which had been built on the ruins of the old Javanese town of Sunda Calappa), destroyed it, aud founded in its stead the present city, which soon acquired a flourishing trade and increased in importance. The ruins of Jacatra are to be found between Batavia and Anjol. In 1699 Batavia was visited by a terrible earthquake, and the streams were choked by the mud from the volcano of Gunong Salak (7244 feet high), by which the climate was so alfected that the city became notorious for its unhealthi- ness, and was in great danger of being altogether aban doned. In the twenty-two years from 1730 to 1752, 1,100,000 deaths are said to have been recorded. General Daendals, who was governor from 1808 to 1811, caused the ramparts of the town to be demolished, and began to form the nucleus of a new city at Weltevreden. By 1816 nearly all the Europeans had left the old town. In 1811 a British armament was sent against the Dutch settlements in Java, which had been incorporated by France, and to this force Batavia surrendered on the 8th of August. It was restored, however, to the Dutch by the treaty of 1814.


See Stavorinus, Voyages to tJic East Indies ; Barrow, Voyage to Cochin China; Sir George Staunton, Embassy to China; Daendel, Staat der Ncdcrl. 0. Ind. Bezittungcn; Junghuhn, Reiscn der Java; Thorn, Mem. of the Conquest of Java ; Sir S. Raffles, History of Java ; Temininck, L Inde Archip.; Veth, Woordenbock v. Nederl. Ind.

BATES, William, D.D., an eminent Nonconformist divine, born in November 1625. He was admitted to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and removed thence to King s College in 1644. He was one of the commissioners at the con ference in the Savoy, for reviewing the public liturgy, and was concerned in drawing up the exceptions to the Book of Common Prayer. Notwithstanding thishe was appointed chaplain to Charles II. soon after the Restoration, and became minister of St Dunstan s in the West ; but he was afterwards deprived of his benefice for nonconformity. Bates was of an amiable character, and enjoyed the friendship of the Lord -Keeper Bridgenian, the Lord-Chan cellor Finch, the earl of Nottingham, and Archbishop Tillotson. He published Select Lives of Illustrious and Pious Persons, in Latin ; and after his death all his works, except his Select Lives, were printed in one vol. fol. ; again in 1723; and in 4 vols. 8vo, in 1815. He died in July 1699, in the 74th year of his age.

BATH, the chief town of Somersetshire, and, from the

elegance of its buildings and the beauty of its situation, one of the finest cities in England, is situated mainly on the right bank of the river Avon, though a considerable exten sion has also taken place on the left. Communication be tween the two portions is afforded by several bridges, of which the most important are the Pulteney, the North Parade, the Cleveland, and the Grosvenor Suspension. The heights and slopes of the great western oolitic range, that rise like an amphitheatre from the river valley, are covered with the terraces and crescents of the city; it contains many fine public walks, and the vicinity presents a great variety of beautiful landscape. Its sheltered position

renders the climate mild and agreeable. The houses are