Messrs. Burton and Wahd's Journey into the Batak Country. 489 



inseparable from the busy haunts of man, rendered it interesting beyond 

 expression. The plain was surrounded by hUls from five hundred to one 

 thousand feet high, in a state of cultivation ; and the whole surrounding 

 country was perfectly free from wood, except the summits of two or three 

 mountains, said to be the abode of monstrous serpents and evil spirits. Here 

 we rested for a time to contemplate the prospect and prepare to descend 

 into the plain, not omitting to discharge our muskets, the customary salute 

 to signify our approach. 



Having been joined on the way by several chiefs of villages returning 

 from a trading journey to Tappanooly, we were invited by the principal of 

 them to take up our abode with him. His village was situated in the 

 centre of the plain, and happened to be the seat of the market on the day 

 of our arrival. Several inducements led us to embrace his offer ; and having 

 placed ourselves under his protection, we were conducted through crowds 

 of spectators, whose surprise and curiosity it was difficult to satisfy. The 

 news of the arrival of white men quickly reached the market, and drew 

 forth the whole assembly to meet us. Before we reached the bank of the 

 principal river, over which it was necessary to pass, we were completelv 

 surrounded and prevented from advancing ; not, however, from any thing 

 hostile, but from extreme curiosity. The object of greatest interest, next 

 to our persons, was a double-baiTelled gun, which, it had been reported, 

 fired twice together ; and we were not suffered to proceed a step until we 

 had demonstrated the reality of this singidar power. Indeed, the conduct 

 of the multitude during the whole of the day, reminded us strongly of 

 what is described of the first appearance of the Spaniards in America, not only 

 with regard to surprise and curiosity, but as it respects that simpUcity and 

 imbecility, which seem so strikingly to have marked the American character. 



We were at length permitted to cross the river, the road leading directly 

 from which to the village was so thickly crowded with people, that it was 

 found impossible to pass : our guide, therefore, conducted us by a circui- 

 tous path to the market-place, where the respectable old men and the cliiefs, 

 with immense brass pipes, were seated in a circle to receive us. Here the 

 noise and pressure became greater than ever, and before we had been in 

 the circle two minutes, it became necessary to remove and take shelter in 

 the house ; several of the chiefs clearing the way with their pipes, which 

 were thus conveniently converted into formidable weapons of offence. 

 We had not been long under cover when it began to rain impetuously ; but 



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