Chapter 41 little man takes power

As mentioned earlier, the Japanese archipelago, the "Formosa" island (the Portuguese colonists called Taiwan Province of my country in the 16th century——Translator's Note) and the Philippine Islands all belong to the high mountains on the edge of the ancient Asian continent, surrounded by the stormy waves of the Pacific Ocean. After impacting for millions of years, it finally separated from the mainland and became an island. The Malay Archipelago (there are many different names: Malay Archipelago, Indies, Dutch East Indies, etc.) is not only an extension of the continental shelf of Asia, but also a remnant of a huge peninsula about the size of China, from Burma, Siam and Southern Indochina stretches eastwards all the way to Australia.At the beginning of geological history, this peninsula may have been directly connected with the Asian continent (which is of course much larger than it is now).Later, the peninsula was separated from Australia by a narrow strip of water about the width of the Torres Strait, which lies between Queensland and the island of New Guinea.

Due to geological changes, a huge continent has turned into a group of strange islands. There are thousands of reefs, large and small, extending all the way from Borneo (the size is equivalent to the Scandinavian Peninsula), which has caused great harm to navigation. Great hindrance.There is no complicated reason for this geological upheaval.This area is the most volcanically active area on earth, and the blue ribbon, a memorial of volcanic activity, still floats on the island of Java.Java has more than 120 volcanoes, but, overall, they've done fairly well over the past 300 years.Sumatra is a little west, and the volcanoes on the island are fairly honest.

The Javanese are generally followers of the ancient Indian Brahmanism.In order to please the gods who live under the Nine Springs, priests often use living people to sacrifice to the gods during festivals and throw them into the boiling magma in the crater.This kind of life sacrifice seems to be really effective, because for hundreds of years, although the volcano has continuously spewed out billowing smoke and roared, and occasionally even roared and raged, it has not yet been produced on the island of Java. Devastating catastrophe. However, the Krakatoa volcano site may erupt again at any time, like a silent sword hanging upside down on the heads of Javanese people.On the Sunda Strait between Sumatra and Java, on the morning of August 26, 1883, the volcano on Krakatoa erupted again.Like the eruption of Krakatoa in prehistoric times, the 1883 eruption flattened the top of the volcano and reduced the entire island to ashes.Two days later, the northern part of the island disappeared completely.The island, once a mountain peak rising 1,500 feet above sea level, has now suddenly become a deep hole, sunk into the Indian Ocean, lying on the ocean floor at a depth of more than 1,000 feet.When the Krakatoa volcano erupted, the roar was earth-shattering and could be heard as far as 3,000 miles away. The volcanic ash filled the air, rose to a height of 17 miles, spread radially, and drifted to Africa, Europe, Asia, America, and finally In the distance drifted to the northern tip of Scandinavia, and for six weeks the sky was colored strangely by volcanic ash, as if a forest fire had broken out nearby.

However, since there are no inhabitants on Krakatoa, the eruption did not cause much disaster on the island, but it did have devastating consequences on the ocean.The volcanic eruption set off a huge wave as high as 50 feet, sweeping across the coast of Java. In an instant, the port and village disappeared without a trace, the giant ship was smashed to pieces like a kindling log, and 36,000 lives were swallowed.The huge waves even spread to Ceylon and Mauritius, and the monstrous huge waves can be clearly seen near Cape Horn, 8,000 miles away.What's more, in the English Channel, 11,000 miles away from the Sunda Strait, this terrifying wave can still be vaguely felt.

Last year, the remains of Krakatau volcano showed signs of activity again, but when and where will the underground fire erupt again?No one can predict it.Like all other peoples who live in volcanically active environments, the Javanese take it lightly and don't mind.A Javanese pays less attention to Krakatoa beside him than an American teenager pays attention to the passing cars while playing baseball in the most crowded Italian enclave. The survival attitude of the Javanese resigned to fate may come from the belief in Islam, or from the concept of life that is content with the status quo.The Javanese people say that like foreign rule, floods, and fires, volcanic eruptions are not a big deal. In this land, their ancestors have cultivated it, and they continue to work now, and their children and grandchildren will still be here The land is sown and harvested.The Javanese never considered giving up this subsistence life.

At first glance, Java seems to have become a paradise in my writing.While that’s not the case, nature does love Java so much that it’s well worth the extra time. 20% of Java's land is volcanic soil. As long as it is cultivated at the right time, crops can be harvested three times a year. The climate in Java, though hot, is not too hot, and all tropical plants are suitable for growth, and the climate in the mountains of Java is cooler and more pleasant than the summer in New York and Washington.Although Java and the other islands of the Malay Archipelago are located on the equator, the days and nights are almost as long, but because of the surrounding sea, the air humidity is high, and the annual average temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature never exceeds 66 degrees Fahrenheit. —The range of 96°Fahrenheit.The seasons alternate on time. From November to March of the following year is the rainy season, and it rains at a fixed time every day; after the rainy season is the dry season, and there is no rain in the dry season; A short intermediate stage.

Due to the unique natural conditions of Java Island, although the length and width are only 622 miles and 121 miles, it supports a population of more than 42 million, while Sumatra and Borneo are much larger than Java, but support a population of only 10% of Java.Because of the fertile land and rich products of Java Island, it attracted the attention of white people from the beginning. The Portuguese first appeared on the island of Java, followed by the British and the Dutch.During the first 300 years of dealing with the native Javanese, the Dutch finally had a rudimentary experience in how to run the colony, after all the mistakes that Europeans could have made.Since the Dutch understood that, no matter what, the natives would fight for independence one day, they tried their best to avoid conflicts with the native Javanese and gradually absorbed the natives to participate in the management of the country.There are 30,000 soldiers on the island, but only 20% of them are white.If the natives really wanted to drive the colonists out, then the Dutch would never be able to rule over a colony 50 times larger than the Netherlands.When the Dutch understood this, schools, railways, and hospitals replaced punitive expeditions, and "forced labor" and "government farms" were logically abolished.If the Dutch finally had to relinquish their supremacy over Java, they hoped to preserve the Dutch's pivotal position in the Javanese economic structure.Among the indigenous Javanese, the older generation firmly believes that "as long as you know your senses, there will be no trouble", while the younger generation is gradually rising. They would rather believe facts than slogans, and believe that the human world is constantly changing, developing and innovating.Today, the older generation has gradually succumbed to the younger generation.

Among the other islands of the Dutch colony, there is no other island that can match the level of civilization of Java.Celebes Island (formerly known as the old name of Sulawesi Island) is located in the west of the Moluccas (formerly known as the Spice Island, in order to occupy the island, Britain, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands fought fiercely for 100 years throughout the 17th century). ———Translator's Note), strange in shape, slender like a spider's foot, being gradually transformed into the second place in Java by the Dutch.Makassar is located in the southwest of Celebes Island, and is now one of the most important cities in the Zhaqi sea area.Makassar not only has normal business contacts with Surakarta and Semarang, the main port cities on the northern coast of Jakarta, but also has frequent contacts with Tanjung Priok (the port of the capital Jakarta).Makassar is rich in oil. In the Victorian era, the old men loved to use Makassar oil to repair locks, and the old ladies used it to weave endless covers.

The Moluccas are not as wealthy as they used to be, but they are still renowned for having some of the best sailors in the Pacific.The Ambonese are the inhabitants of the Moluccas. 400 years ago, the Ambonians were notorious for being the most feared cannibals in the Pacific.Today, the people of Ambon are exemplary Christians.But it is incredible that the most heroic regiments in the Dutch East Indies were provided by the Ambonians. Among the islands formed by the Asian peninsula jutting into the Pacific Ocean, Borneo is the largest island.It is a strange custom on the island of Borneo to use human heads to worship the gods. Therefore, the island is sparsely populated.The Dutch took the most severe punitive measures to suppress this age-old cruelty, but, even to this day, if a young man in Borneo wishes to marry, he must take a head, at least one.The population has been dwindling from this long-term mutual killing (the Borneans look proud and careless as a golfer shows off his trophy as he displays his macabre booty).But the rivers on Borneo are finally being developed, the oil, coal and diamond companies are building roads, and the savage natives are gradually being persuaded to take up farming.If this continues, Borneo will be able to support 20 times the current population.

The northern part of Borneo was under British rule.The northwest corner is called Sarawak, an independent region ruled by a descendant of a famous Englishman.This Englishman was Recha Brooks, that is, Sir James Brooks. Back then, Brooks went to Borneo and suppressed a rebellion in Borneo. After that, he stayed in Borneo and established an independent kingdom. Sumatra in the east is also another extremely important island in the Dutch East Indies.Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula are parallel, and the island has frequent volcanic activities, but it is also rich in products.Unfortunately, Sumatra Island was cut in two by a tall mountain range, which seriously hindered the economic development of Sumatra Island until the road was built, and the situation improved.In terms of developing trade with the West, aircraft and automobiles are the most important industries in Sumatra.

Sandwiched between Sumatra and Borneo, Bangka and Belitung are the continuation of the Malay Peninsula.Bangka Island and Belitung Island are rich in tin.The famous Bali (one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world today——Translator's Note) is located on the east side of Java Island. This is a place where the relics of prehistoric human life have been best preserved. Flores Island and Timor Island in the north, New Guinea Island in the east, it actually belongs to the Australian mainland.The island of New Guinea is about the size of half of Central Europe, about the distance from Paris to Odessa, and yet is almost untouched.The island of New Guinea is owned by the Netherlands only on the western peninsula. The island of New Guinea is sparsely populated and has no rivers leading to the interior.Cannibalism, the backwardness of the natives, death from disease, and hunting all contributed to the low population.To this day, the remnants of some small tribes are scattered all over the interior.This also shows that humans began to inhabit New Guinea a long time ago. This is where humans first bid farewell to the age of apes.Homo erectus Java, the earliest ape-man fossil, was found on the island of Java, and in Borneo and Sumatra, those huge anthropoid orangutans were found, and these are good evidence.This proves at least one thing: this island is very old. Today, part of the human family has evolved to build a tropical zoo, while other members still live in the same environment as the zoo.This human world is indeed puzzling.