Their manner of living is pretty much the same in all seasons of the year. They rise as soon as it is light, and drink tea or coffee; then transact their business, either within or without doors, till nine o'clock in the morning, at which time it is too hot to be in the open air; and they negotiate business, or divert themselves otherwise, within doors, till about noon, and then dine. After dinner, they strip themselves of every thing, except a pair of drawers and a short cotton gown, and go to bed. At four or five o'clock in the afternoon they rise again, drink tea, and, if they have no business to transact, as there are no public places of diversion, they take an airing in their carriages; come home, sup, and go to bed again about eleven at night. Those born here of European parents, who are not many and are of a mixed breed, generally follow the Malay customs.

The inhabitants are mostly Chinese, and their number is very great both in town and country. The China town, which is on the south side of the city, is pretty large, but meanly built, as the better sort of Chinese live within the city. The greater number of shopkeepers are Chinese; they make all the arrack and sugar; nor can any person hold an arrack-house without having it under the name of some Chinese. They also cultivate all the variety of garden-stuff with which Batavia is furnished; and of them there are silver-smiths, pewterers, carpenters, joiners, masons, calkers, barbers, hawkers, dealers, and chapmen. There is not any trade, however mean and servile, which they do not follow: and, though the Dutch have laid them under many restrictions, yet they find means to acquire a comfortable subsistence, and often accumulate wealth. The Dutch have imposed a poll-tax on them of a ducatoon, or six shillings and eight pence, a month.

The Chinese in and about Batavia have a sallow complexion, black eyes, and tolerable good noses, but they pluck their beards up by the roots, and make, upon the whole, a very effeminate appearance.

Voyaging Accounts