MADURA (Dutch Madoera)  , an island of the Dutch East Indies, separated by the shallow Strait of Madura from the N.E. coast of Java . Pop . (1897), 1,652,580, of whom 1,646,071 were natives, 4252 Chinese and 558 Europeans . It extends from about 1120 32' to 114° 7' E., and is divided into two nearly equal portions by the parallel of 7° S.; the area is estimated at 1725 sq. m . It is a plateau-like prolongation of the limestone range of northern Java, with hills (1300 to 160o ft. high) and dales . The formation of the coast and plains is Tertiary and recent alluvium . Hot springs are not infrequent; and in the valley between Gunong Geger and Banjar lies the mud volcano of Banju Ening . The coasts are clothed with tropical vegetation; but the soil is better fitted for pastoral than agricultural purposes . Fishing and cattle-rearing are the chief means of subsistence . Besides rice and maize, Madura yields coco-nut oil and jail . The manufacture of salt for the government, abolished in other places, continues in Madura . Hence perhaps the name is derived (Sansk. mandura, salt) .

Petroleum is found in small quantities . The principal town is Sumenep; and there are populous Malay, Arab and Chinese villages between the town and the European settlement of Maringan . On a hill in the neighbourhood lies Asta, the burial-place of the Sumenep princes . Pamekasan is the seat of government . Bangkalang is a large town with the old palace of the sultan of Madura and the residences of the princes of the blood; the mosque is adorned with the first three suras of the Koran, thus differing from nearly all the mosques in Java and Madura, though resembling those of western Islam . In the vicinity once stood the Erfprins fort . Arisbaya (less correctly Arosbaya) is the place where the first mosque was built in Madura, and where the Dutch sailors first made acquaintance with the natives . The once excellent harbour is now silted up . Sampang is the seat of an important market . The Kangean and Sapudi islands, belonging to Madura, yield timber, trepang, turtle, pisang and other products . Madura formerly consisted of three native states—Madura or Bangkalang, Pamekasan and Sumenep . The whole island was considered part of the Java residency of Surabaya .

The

separate residency of Madura was constituted in 1857; it now consists of four " departments "—Pamekasan, Madura, Sumenep and Sampang . See P . J . Veth, Java, vol. iii . ; Kielstra, " Het Eiland Madoera," `n De Gids (189o); H. van Lennep, " De Madoereezen," in De Indische Gids (1895), with detailed bibliography .