p. 13 | A Glimpse of Native Life in Java by H. E. SHARP

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 31, 1911

A Glimpse of Native Life in Java

By H. E. SHARP

H. E. SHARP

As the climate of Java does not call for warm garments, the natives do not wear much clothing. The sarong, a strip of muslin painted in various designs and colors, is generally used. This is fastened around the waist, and reaches almost to the feet. Above this is worn a light coat, or jacket. There is not much difference between the dress of the man and that of the woman, except that instead of the sarong the men sometimes wear trousers of the same material, and a light coat, cut after the European style.

The women do not often wear hats, but the men generally wear them. Their hats are cone or basin-shaped, made of palm leaves, painted black, white, red, blue, green, or yellow. Some have special hats for wet weather, which measure from three to four feet in diameter, and effectually shelter the person beneath from the rain.

These people can live on very little—about four cents being enough to buy necessary food for one day. A servant girl works one month for $1.40, and a man can be hired for from twelve to twenty cents a day, according to the work he must do. There are government schools for the natives; and those who have had a little education, and become fitted for office work, are able to earn much more. A great many are employed in government offices. The police force is also composed of natives.

A visit to the morning market is an interesting sight. This consists of several rows of long, low sheds without walls, being simply bamboo floors, with red tile roofs. These sheds form a shelter for numerous little stalls, and here one may obtain almost all of the native products. There are fruit stalls, where the native women sit amid the many kinds of tropical fruits that they have for sale. Fine large bananas cost only four or five cents a dozen, and other fruits are equally cheap, with the exception of apples, which are imported from Australia. At another place there is a man selling bean sprouts, and next to him another is offering cakes of moldy peanuts.

Farther on there are vegetable stalls, where one may purchase, for six cents, sufficient vegetables for a large family dinner. Just opposite, the women are selling meat. Since little of the animal is thrown away, there is to be seen lying around the saleswoman almost any part of the animal; a bullock’s head, heart, lungs, stomach, etc., will always find a ready sale in Java.

At the fish-market one sees many gold-fish and silverfish lying in pools of water, waiting for their price to be paid, when they will be taken out, hung on a string, and taken home to be cooked. If one is able to make his way through the stench to another corner, he will find many kinds of dried fish for sale. Thousands of small fish are packed into large boxes just as they are taken from the water, mixed with some material which is a very poor preservative, and shipped to Java. The natives eat a great deal of such fish, but the European views the fact in amazement.

Another phase of native life is the professional beggar. There are many thousands of these throughout Java, every town and village having a full supply. Some are blind, some are crippled, and others diseased, having great sores all over the body, and causing one to shudder at the sight.

These beggars have various methods of traveling. The blind are led by small boys, the lame hobble about with sticks, some crawl, and others move on their feet and hands. One has a small cart made from a box, with wooden axles, and wheels cut from a board, which are hardly in the shape of a circle. A little boy draws this wagon, while the passenger helps a little in propelling it by pushing with a stick. The usual method of begging is to squat down, take off the hat, and say, 'Tabek toean,' which means, 'Good day, sir.'

Some of these beggars are really helpless, and deserving of pity, but a great many are able to work. In Java, as in other countries, there are unprincipled men who do not scruple to get money by unfair means. Some of these hire beggars who are unable to look after themselves, and give them a little food and clothing, in return for which they must go out and beg, the money going to the master. It is said that many men get rich in this way. Another sad story is that many of these beggars are taken when babies, and purposely crippled by persons who hope later to use them for obtaining riches.

You know how the Saviour worked for the people while on earth, how he toiled to give the message of salvation to men, and how he commissioned those who believe on him to do the same works that he did, adding, 'And greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.' Do you not wish to have a part in this work? and do you not think that these people of Java are in need of such help? If you do, the time to begin is now, and the way to help is with your prayers, your means, and your time. Who knows but that the little you give, or the time you spend, or the prayer you offer in behalf of these people, may bring eternal peace and happiness to some one of Java’s millions?