a decayed town of Java, formerly capital of a district of the same name, at the north-western extremity of the island, situated on the Bay of Bantam, near the mouth of a river which falls into the bay. It was once a large, rich, and flourishing city, but now exhibits nothing except ruins, the memorials of its departed greatness. It is about 61 miles west from Batavia, and is situated on a low, swampy beach, surrounded by jungle, and intersected with stagnant streams, so that its climate is even more unhealthy than that of Batavia. After Batavia surrendered to the British arms in 1811, this kingdom was in a state of great distraction; the British government of Batavia accordingly interfered in favour of the rightful heir, and restored him to the throne. In former times Bantam was a free port, open to the commerce of all nations. In 1683 the trade was monopolized by the Dutch, who erected Fort Spielberg, to shut out all other merchants. This odious policy excited great discontent among the people, who were always the bitter enemies of the Dutch; but they were unable to shake off the yoke of their oppressors, who, about the year 1742, had succeeded in completely establishing their authority. The Bay of Bantam was formerly a commodious retreat for vessels; but it is now so choked up with daily accessions of new earth washed down from the mountains, as well as by coral shoals extending a considerable way to the eastward, that it is inaccessible to vessels of any considerable burden. Prior to the Dutch conquest, Bantam was a powerful state, the sovereign of which extended his conquests in the neighbouring islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It was abandoned by the Dutch in 1817, for the more elevated station of Ceram, seven miles inland, and it is now a miserable village. Long. 106. 3. E. Lat. 6. 4. S.