488 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxvi. 



Siumat lies about 5 miles off the eastern coast of Siraalur, about half- 

 way between Telok Dalani and Labuan Bacljan Ba}'. It contains 

 about 1,000 acres and is mostly cleared and planted with cocoanuts, etc. 



Two small islands, the Tapak or Flat Islands, about 16 miles from 

 the southeastern extremity of Simalur, were next explored (January 4 

 to D). Pulo Lasia (pronounced Lahseea), the more northerly and also 

 the smaller, is an uninhabited mass of coral rock covered with dense 

 forest. It is about 2i miles long and 2 miles wide. Separated from 

 Pulo Lasia by a strait a mile and a half wide is Pulo Babi, a slightl}^ 

 larger island, also of coral rock, but with more sand and soil than there 

 is on Lasia. Like the smaller island, it is uninhabited, though the 

 forest contains some cocoanut palms, and pigs are very abundant. 



Nineteen miles east of Pulo Babi and 31 miles north of Nias lies 

 Pulo Bangkaru, the most westerly and second largest of the Banjak or 

 Banyak (many) Islands, the group next visited (January 16 to Feb- 

 ruary 6). The surface is irregular and heavil}^ forested, its highest 

 point probably rising 1,000 feet above the sea. The island covers an 

 area of about 20 square miles. A week was spent here at an anchorage 

 in Cameleon Bay on the southeast coast. Great Banjak Island, Pulo 

 Tuangku, or Tunanku (spelled Toeankoe on the Dutch charts), is 6 

 miles east of Pulo Bangkaru and 25 from Singkel, the nearest point in 

 Sumatra. It is about 17 miles long by 5 wide and probably contains 

 40 or 50 square miles. The highest points are Bukit Teressa, a cone- 

 shaped hill about 1,000 feet in altitude, and Batu Lauteh, which rises 

 to about 800 feet. Both are situated at the north end of the island, 

 where are also the few clearings and paddy tields. Cultivation on any 

 extended- scale is prevented by the abundance of pigs and monkeys, T)ut 

 on the islets off the coast cocoanuts are successfully grown. 



From the Banjak Islands Dr. Abbott crossed to Tapanuli (or Tappa- 

 noeli) Bay on the west coast of Sumatra. Here he spent the last half 

 of February and the month of March, par tl}?" at points on the main- 

 land and partly (March 2 to 14) at Pulo Mansalar (also spelled Moe- 

 salla, Massalla, Mansalla, and Mensilla), at the entrance to the ba}. 

 The principal collecting stations were Tapanuli and Siboga settlements, 

 near the north end of the bay, Jaga Jaga, a stream near the south end, 

 Butik Kebong and Butik Sawa, hills 1,224 and 1,100 feet in height, 

 respectively, lying near the coast just south of the Jaga Jaga, Lobo 

 Pandan Bay, at the south foot of Butik Kebong, and Gumong Panjam- 

 urong Udong, a hill on the south side of Lobo Pandan Bay. The 

 country throughout this region is fertile and well forested. Pulo 

 Mansalar, at the mouth of Tapanuli Bay, is 7 miles from the main- 

 land. It is 11 miles long and contains 45 square miles. The heavily 

 forested surface is mountainous, with scarcely any level ground, 

 though the highest point is only 1,660 feet above sea level. The tim- 

 ber is very fine, and much is cut and taken to Siboga for house 

 buildinsr. 



