Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/400

 380 BATAVIA the Waal (Vahalis), the Maas (Mosa), and the ocean. The Caninefates, another tribe of the Chatti, occupied a portion of the same island in Csesar's time. The Batavi, who were good horsemen, were employed as cavalry by the Romans in their campaigns on the lower Rhine and in Britain, and also as infantry. In A. D. 69 they rose in arms under their chief Claudius Civilis against the Romans, but though successful for a time, they were ultimately re- duced to submission. (See CIVILIS.) Although included in the Roman empire, they paid no taxes, and were considered rather as allies than subjects. They served as Roman auxil- iaries as late as 350. BATAVIA, a city of Java, capital of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, in lat. 6 10' 8., Ion. 106 50' E., on a swampy plain at the head of a deep bay of the Java sea, on the N. W. coast of the island, upon both banks of the river Jacatra. The bay is protected by a number of islands, and forms a secure har- bor. The population in 1832 was 118,300, of whom 2,800 were Europeans, 25,000 Chinese, 80,000 natives, 1,000 Moors and Arabs, and 9,500 slaves; the present number is various- ly stated at from 70,000 to 150,000, the dis- crepancy apparently arising from the differ- ent areas embraced, the wealthy inhabitants now residing beyond the limit of the fortifica- tions, upon several broad roads running for some distance inland. The local trade and handicrafts are mostly in the hands of the Chinese ; the foreign commerce in those of the Dutch, although there are also English, French, German, and American merchants. About 1,500 vessels annually enter the port, two thirds of which are Dutch. The principal Bate. articles of export are spices, rice, coffee, sugar, indigo, tobacco, dye woods, and gold dust. In 1867 the total value of the exports was $27,- 227,025; imports, $22,439,435. Batavia was originally laid out on the model of a Dutch city, with broad streets having each a canal in the centre. Under a tropical sun these almost stagnant waters, soaking into the soft soil, produced malaria, and the city came to be re- garded as the graveyard of Europeans; the wealthy classes took up their residence in the suburbs which formed the new town on the heights of Weltevreden, whither the govern- ment offices were removed. Within a few years canals have been filled up and drainage introduced, so that the city is considered toler- ably healthy. The thermometer ranges from 65 to 90. The old town is mainly inhabited by natives and the poorer Chinese. The city has a bank and a newspaper, and has recently been connected with Singapore by a telegraphic cable 600 m. long. Among the principal pub- lic buildings are the Lutheran church, mili- tary hospital, and exchange. Batavia occupies the site of the former native city of Jacatra, which was seized in 1619 by the Dutch gover- nor Jan Pieterszoon Koen, the Dutch having a few years before set up a factory here. The capital of the Dutch possessions in India was now removed from Amboyna to this place. In 1628-'9 the allied sovereigns of Bantam, Jaca- tra. and Mataram twice besieged the new city, with an army of 100,000 men, but were repulsed. In 1641 there was a revolt of the Chinese popu- lation, of whom 12,000 were massacred by or- der of the governor, Adriaan Valckenaer. In 1811 it was captured by the English, but was restored to the Dutch after the peace.