atest extravagances;
spending their whole time in debauched houses, and in swearing and
drinking. This our author attributed to the bad example of those among
whom they lived, all the lower people at Japara being as lewd and
profligate as could be imagined; insomuch, that the first question
they put to strangers from Europe is, if they have brought over any
new oaths.

The town of _Japara_ is seated at the bottom of a mountain of moderate
height, is of a middling size, and is inhabited by Javans, Chinese,
and Dutch; and was of more considerable extent than now, when in the
hands of the Portuguese. Before getting possession of Jacatra, now
Batavia, the Dutch East-India Company had their principal magazines
for trade at this place, which was their chief factory, and on which
all the other factories in Java were dependent; but it has fallen much
in importance since the factory was transferred to Samarang. The port
of Japara is both safe and commodious, and is defended by a fort,
built mostly of wood, on the top of the mountain at the foot of which
the town is seated. This fort is called the _Invincible Mountain_,
because the Javanese were constantly defeated in all their attempts to
get it into their hands, when in possession of the Portuguese; and its
guns command the whole road.

The king of Japara mostly resides at a place called _Kattasura_, about
twenty-nine leagues up the country, where the Dutch have a strong
fort with a good garrison, serving at the same time to secure their
conquest, and to guard the king. This prince is a Mahomedan, and is
served entirely by women, of whom he takes as many as he pleases,
either as wives or concubines. Some of his priests are obliged to
go every year on pilgrimage to Mecca, in order to make vows for the
safety and prosperity of the king and royal family. His subjects are
extremely faithful, and devoted to his service; the principal persons
of his court having to approach him on their knees, every time they
have an audience; but in time of war, this slavish custom is dispensed
with. Such as commit the slightest fault, are poniarded on the spot by
a kriss or dagger; this being almost the only punishment in use among
them, as the smallest faults and the greatest crimes are all equally
capital. The natives of this country are mostly of a very brown
complexion, tolerably well shaped, and having long black hair, which
however many of them cut short. Their noses are all flat and broad,