Messrs. Burton and Ward's Journey into the Batak Country. 4.91 



ornamented with carving and paint. The villages were clean; and the 

 females occupied in the manufacture of cloth, and surrounded by numbers of 

 playful children, afforded a pleasing idea of industry, health, and domes- 

 ticity. 



It was our original intention to have proceeded as far as the great lake of 

 Toba; but the unexpected circumstance of meeting so large a population, and 

 the recurrence of a disease to which one of us was occasionally subject, rendered 

 it necessary to relinquish that plan, and content ourselves for the present with 

 the progress already effected. After some days, therefore, spent in visits 

 and festivity, we ascended some of the highest of the surrounding hills, for 

 the purpose of viewing the country beyond the district of Silindung. In 

 one instance two guides accompanied us from the principal chief, with 

 directions to impart all the information they could ; in another, two were 

 sent by a different chief, with similar instructions. Two of these guides 

 were born on the borders of the lake and had spent the principal part of their 

 lives there : and they appeared the more worthy of credit, because their ac- 

 counts, although delivered at different times and in different places, very 

 generally coincided. 



They pointed out the middle of the lake as being in the direction of N.E. 

 and by N. from the spot where we stood, which would make it probably N.E. 

 from Tappanooly. From the distance at which they placed the extremities on 

 each side of this point, we calculated its direct length to be about sixty or 

 seventy miles. The reports of its breadth were various ; but we should judge 

 it to be from fifteen to twenty miles. It was described as having an island, 

 a mile, perhaps, in diameter, situated near the centre. On this a periodical 

 market is held, to which a variety of commodities are carried from the 

 surrounding shores, in long narrow boats, worked by from forty to sixty 

 paddles. From the extent of the lake, tire water is said to be so rough in 

 tempestuous weather as to endanger the safety even of these. They repre- 

 sented a deep and rapid river, named Ayik Bakdru, as emptying itself into 

 the northern end from the mountains of Dairi, in the interior of Sinkul : 

 besides tliis, numbers of smaller streams were said to fall into it from every 

 quarter. The vast quantities of water flowing into it from these various 

 sources, induced us to inquire respecting an outlet ; but upon this subject 

 we could gain no clear or satisfactory information. 



We observed on the eastern side a range of lofty mountains, extending from 

 the northern extremity about half the length of the lake, when it terminated 



