Messrs. Burton and IV^itn's Journey into the Batak Omntrij. tiUi 



and mental endowments aj)pear, in fact, to confer tlie most real and exten- 

 sive power ; for tlie frequency of their wars and tlieir popular consultations 

 afford so comparatively wide a scope for the exercise of these qualities, 

 that they naturally gain an easy ascendancy, where wealth has made so 

 slight an inroad. 



Independently of this extraneous domination, every village forms a dis- 

 tinct community, ])ossessing in itself every species of civil and political 

 power, and affording, perhaps, a correct idea of what some of the great 

 municipal cities of Europe were very anciently. The chiefj with the 

 advice of the principal men of his village (amongst whom the aged are 

 entitled to considerable deference), forms regulations, administers justice, 

 declares war, and concludes peace. His influence depends greatly on his 

 capacity to govern ; but as he generally secures to himself" tiie office of 

 priest, he has it in his power to render every thing and every person subser- 

 vient to his own designs. The mental superiority derived from the exer- 

 cise of power, supported by such an engine as that of the priesthood, 

 renders the chiefs more sensible of tlieir advantages, and tends j)erpetually 

 to strengthen the shackles of superstition, and to perpetuate the condition of 

 intellectual debasement among the people. Under such a system, it will 

 not be thought surprising that the Bataks should bear in their character 

 the features of imbecility, cowardice, and cruelty ; nor, since they arc 

 already in a state of complete mental subjugation, should it be thought 

 difficult to introduce the basis of a different order of things. As the 

 tendency of the present system, however, is directly opposed to the internal 

 advancement of society, and as every inherent energy is suppressed before 

 it can acquire force to break through the chains which have hitherto 

 enslaved the Bataks, it is probable they will remain fixed in their present 

 condition of stationary barbarity, until some external influence breaks in 

 and diverts their native resources to other purposes. 



3 X2 



