Messrs. Buxton and Ward's Journey iiito the Batalc Country. 495 



Toha SiUndung, Butur, Toha Holbang, and the district of Humbang. Pro- 

 ceeding north-east from Barus,v/e meet with the districts of Toba Union and 

 Si Nambila ; from SinM, witli tlie district called Dairi ; and from Tarumon 

 with the districts o? Alas, Karaxv, and Ria, extending in the interior nearly 

 to the northern extremity of the island. 



The lake of Toba, the middle of which, as already observed, bears about 

 north-east from the settlement at Tappanooly, is situated near the centre of 

 the Batak country, and the most populous districts are those upon its bor 

 ders. It has on its west sideToZ»« Holbang and Toba Linton; on its east 

 the district ofHumbang, which extends nearly to the eastern coast; and at 

 Its north-west end, that of Si Nambila. 



Origin. 



In answer to various questions on the origin of the Bataks, the principal 

 chief of Sdtndung informed us that they considered themselves the first 

 people who had settled in Sumatra; but that the traditions respecting the 

 mother country were lost, except that it was situated far to the east beyond 

 the sea. That they first landed somewhere to the eastward of the lake • and 

 having discovered the conveniences it afl^orded, they settled on its boilers 

 That having greatly multiplied in the course of time, numbers removed to 

 the plain of SiUndung. That by a farther increase of population, the 

 districts of Dairi to the north, and of Angkola to the south, were succes- 

 sively occupied ; and that the inhabitants of the latter gradually extended 

 themselves to Manangkabaxv, which eventually acquired more consequence 

 than all the rest. To these particulars he superadded the story of Alexan 

 der the Great, who is said to have divided his empire amongst his three 

 sons, leaving one sultan of Roum, another of China, and a third of Manan^ 

 kabau. He said that the Sultan of Manangkaban^, in the height of his powe* 

 made a tour of the island, and appointed the principal chiefs to their 

 repect.ve governments; that after making a proper choice for the Bataks 

 he gave them a sign which should always in future distinguish the proper 

 successor, and that they have been guided by that' sign ever since. The 

 sign ,s a black spot under the tongue. On asking how the Bataks regarded the 

 Sultan of Manangkabaw at the present day, and whether they would submit to 

 his authority, he assured us that he was still considered as the sovereign of 

 the country, superior to their own immediate chiefs, and that a simple order 

 from him would, in every part, meet with the utmost submission. What 

 Vol. I. g 'p 



