. Java, Sumatra and the other islands of the Dutch East Indies . atisfaction is only betrayed by the fact that theirclothing is more ornamental than usual and their facesbrighter. If Korea is entitled the Empire of the Quiet Morning,Java deserves the name of the Island of Silent Serenity. Among the habitual pleasures of the Javanese, tobacco(roko) and the betel-nut (sirih) have passed into the rankof necessities, so general is the use of these two stimu-lants, and particularly that of the latter. Betel is used bywomen as much as by men, and both use it the poorest coolie to th
. Java, Sumatra and the other islands of the Dutch East Indies . atisfaction is only betrayed by the fact that theirclothing is more ornamental than usual and their facesbrighter. If Korea is entitled the Empire of the Quiet Morning,Java deserves the name of the Island of Silent Serenity. Among the habitual pleasures of the Javanese, tobacco(roko) and the betel-nut (sirih) have passed into the rankof necessities, so general is the use of these two stimu-lants, and particularly that of the latter. Betel is used bywomen as much as by men, and both use it the poorest coolie to the Susuhunan, every Javaneseis always chewing this refreshing condiment, whichblackens the teeth, however, and provokes an abundantflow of reddened saliva. At all domestic rejoicings the sirihis offered to all the guests; and the accessories necessaryto betel-chewing accompany the great wherever they go. The use of opium, which is by no means so harmless,has, unfortunately, been becoming more and more usualduring the last twenty years. For this reason all those. THE NATIVES OF JAVA 127 who concern themselves with the welfare of the nativesare anxious that the Chinese should be forced to abandonthe growth of the poppy in order to restrain the abuse ofthe drugJ Dice, cards, quail- and cock-fights,^ and tops with num-bered sides, on the stoppage of which bets are laid, arestill favourite means of amusement with the Javanesenative, who will sometimes, in the excitement of play,ruin himself within a few hours. We must not besurprised to find such amusements severely proscribedby the better classes of the natives, who are to-day soanxious to bring about a popular renascence ; but it willcertainly be no easy task to wean the people from suchamusements, as the native of almost every quarter of theFar East has a regrettable passion for games of chance. On the other hand, the Javanese of the people, more onaccount of his natural sobriety than out of religiousscruple, is not addicted to fe
Size: 1295px × 1929px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishernewyorkcscribnerss
