Banyumas

Banyumas, a town of Java. It is situated at the opening of an extensive and fruitful valley on the left bank of the Serajo, 22 miles from the south coast. Pop. 9000. It is well built, and carries on a considerable trade, is the residence of a Dutch governor, and has a fort and garrison. It is the capital of a province of the same name, which produces coffee, sugar, indigo, rice, tobacco, &c. The area of the province is 2136 sq. m.; pop. a million and a half, of whom only some 700 are Europeans. The district is low and marshy towards the coast, but very mountainous in the north and east. The volcanic plateau of Dieng (6700 feet) contains the terrible 'valley of death,' a ravine full of volcanic gases, principally carbonic acid.