( 48.5 ) 



XXVI. Report of a Journeij into the Batak Country, in the interior of 

 Sumatra, in the year 1824.. By Messrs. Burton and Ward, Baptist 

 Missionaries. Coimmmicaied by the late Sir St.imford Rjfi-les, Kt. 



Read April 22, 182(5. 



Journal. 

 In accordance with a desire of" the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Stamford 

 Raffles, and in pursuance of the objects of the mission to the Bataks, we left 

 the village of Sibolga on Friday the 30th of April 1824, for the purpose of 

 visiting the populous districts inland of the bay of Tappanooly. The general 

 opinion of the ferocity of the Batak character, together with the represen- 

 tations of various individuals residing in the bay, had lecj us to view the 

 enterjirize as somewhat hazardous and difficult. The previously limited 

 intercourse of Europeans with the interior, had reduced them to the neces- 

 sity of depending upon the natives of the coast and the adjacent mountains 

 for their information relative to those parts : these, from a habit of here- 

 ditary depredation on their more inland neigiibours, having imbibed towards 

 them sentiments and feelings to their prejudice, had generally presented the 

 most unfavourable view of their character and disposition. Unfortunately, 

 the well-attested practice of cannibalism, in some of its most odious forms, 

 so disgusting and horrible to the imagination of civilized nations, had 

 served to corroborate their worst representations ; and a barrier had thus been 

 raised against almost every effort of research into an extensive and pojiu- 

 lous country, for more than a century bordered by our settlements and fac- 

 tories, and the exclusive source of some of our most valuable articles of com- 

 merce. Except a journey performed upwards of fifty years ago by Messrs. 

 Miller and Holloway, wliicii appears to have been extended scarcely beyond 

 the woody hills on the west, we are not aware of any personal communication 

 of Europeans with what may properly be called the Batak country, the 

 open plains, and more level districts between the mountains and the straits 

 of Malacca. Should the reception we experienced on this occasion be 

 followed by farther intercourse and more accurate information, we have 

 reason to anticipate a change of opinion on some points, which have hitherto 



