TIMOR TIMUR

English East Timor provinsi (province) of Indonesia consisting of the eastern half of the island of Timor, the small islands of Kambing and Jako, and the former enclave (now a kabupaten ) surrounding the town of Okussi (O-Cusse) on the northwestern coast of Timor. It is bounded by the Timor Sea on the southeast, the Wetar Strait on the north, the Ombai Strait on the northwest, and western Timor (part of Nusa Tenggara Timur province) on the south. Timor Timur has an area of 5,743 square miles (14,874 square km). See also Timor. The Portuguese first settled on Timor in 1520, and the Spaniards arrived in 1522. The Dutch took possession of the western portion of the island in 1613. The British governed the island in 181215. The Dutch and the Portuguese fought for supremacy over Timor; Portuguese sovereignty over the island's eastern half was settled by treaties in 1860 and 1893, although the latter only became effective in 1914. Japanese forces occupied Timor during World War II. East Timor province, including the enclave surrounding the town of Okussi, thereafter remained in Portuguese possession until 1975, when the Timor political party Fretilin declared the territory to be independent (November 28). Nine days later the new country was invaded by Indonesian forces, and it incorporated into the Republic of Indonesia as the country's 27th province in 1976. The legality of Indonesia's administration of East Timor, however, is disputed by the United Nations. The Okussi area on the northwestern coast has valuable sandalwood forests, coconut groves, and rice plantations. Its chief town, Okussi (formerly Pante Macassar), is a port and has an airport. The hilly offshore island of Kambing, which also has an airport, has a population occupied mainly in fishing. The eastern part of Timor is rugged, with mountains rising to 9,721 feet (2,963 m) at Mount Tata Mailau in the centre of a high plateau. The province has a dry climate and moderate rainfall. Hilly areas are covered with sandalwood; scrub and grass grow in the lowlands, together with coconut palms and eucalyptus trees. There is a hot spring and numerous mountain streams. Wildlife are a species of marsupial, the cuscus, and monkeys, deer, civet cats, snakes, and crocodiles. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy; chief products include copra, hides, coffee, cotton, rice, wheat, tobacco, wool, potatoes, and corn (maize), as well as pearls and sandalwood. Soap, perfumes, processed food, chemicals, and machine goods are produced, and coffee is processed. Crafts include pottery, wood and ivory carving, plaiting, coir production, and basket making. Roads run parallel to the northeastern coast and link Maubara, Manatulo, Tutuala, and Dili, the provincial capital. Most of the population is Papuan mixed with Malayan and Polynesian elements and is predominantly Christian. About 40 different Papuan and Malayan languages or dialects are spoken. Pop. (1988 est.) 681,300.