488 Messrs. Burton and Ward's Journey into the Batak Country, 



tain, where we took up oiir lodgings for the night, receiving such comfort, 

 amidst rain and cold and mud, as the misei-able inmates could afford. 



At an early liour on Tuesday morning we were conducted to the opposite 

 side of the mountain, and gratified by a delightful view of the Toba dis- 

 tricts, which presented themselves at an immense distance through an 

 avenue of the hills. The woodlands had already given place to grassy 

 plains ; and the mountain on which we stood had been cleared on every side 

 for cultivation, merely retaining its original forest in a tuft at the top. On 

 descending its verdant side we entered, a valley richly cultivated; and although 

 we actually obseiTed for the present but few men or habitations, every thing 

 indicated our approach to an extensive population. The valley may be 

 described as three mUes in length and a fourth of a mile in breadth, winding 

 so variously amongst the hills, as to present almost at every step a new and 

 distinct prospect. A mountain stream meandering throughout its extent, 

 and terminating in a fine cascade, contributed equally to its beauty and fer- 

 tiHty. Its surface, perfectly even, presented a continued chain of rice fields 

 almost ready for the sickle. Tiie soil now became sandy and grey, and the 

 hills were entirely free from wood, and planted with the sweet potatoe in 

 many instances to the very tops. The beauty and variety of the scene, 

 contrasted with the rugged wilds of nature, to which we had become ac- 

 customed, produced in our minds an effect so delightful, that had our jour- 

 ney terminated here, we might have concluded that nothing could have 

 surpassed this prospect. 



The path at length led us through a cleft in the hills, where oui' attention 

 was arrested by the fall of the rivulet. On turning aside to view it, a portion 

 of the district of Silindung discovered itself through a break of the trees. 

 Language cannot express the astonishment which we felt when we leached 

 the brow of the hill, and obtained a more extensive view. Even the coolies, 

 at this unexpected scene, appeared for a moment transfixed to the spot, and 

 with one accord cast down their burdens, and burst into expressions of the 

 warmest admiration. The principal object of the picture was an even plain, 

 ten or twelve miles long and three broad, forming a vast unbroken field of 

 rice. A fine broad river, with numberless tributary streams winding through 

 the plain from end to end, and supplying artificial aqueducts for irrigation 

 in every direction, served nuich to adorn it ; but the number of villages 

 along its border and scattered over its surface, and the concourse of people 

 assembled at a market in its centre, together with the variety of objects 



