897 



SUMATRA. 



SUMATRA. 



693 



highest part of this tract is an abrupt conical peak, called Elephant 

 Mountain. Tho climate of this country rather resembles that of Hin- 

 dustan than that of the western coast. The monsoon blows from 

 south-west from May to October; and during its strength, from May 

 to September, the weather is very cloudy ahd much rain falls, but only 

 iu showers. The dry season takes place during the north-east mon- 

 soon, which regularly sets in towards the end of November, and blows 

 steady to March. The climate of this tract is more healthy than that 

 of the other parts of Sumatra. The soil is tolerably fertile, and pro- 

 duces abundance of rice, much of which is exported, cotton, and the 

 finest tropical fruits, with several esculent vegetables. Cattle, horses, 

 and goats are numerous. The principal commercial productions are 

 betel-nuts and pepper. The country is well cultivated and populous. 



The Great Plain, which extends over the eastern and probably the 

 greater part of Sumatra, from Diamond Point to Taujong Toca, 

 presents gome variety along the coast, but as far as the interior is 

 known it boa a nearly uniform character. The northern part of it, as 

 far south as the mouth of the Kakan River, though Ion-, is sufficiently 

 elevated above the level of the sea to be out of the reach of its inun- 

 dations at spring-tides. The rivers arc short, but some of them have 

 tolerably good harbour-". The central portion of the plain, extending 

 from Kakau Kiver to Lucepara Point, is extremely low along the sea- 

 coast, and a large portion of it is covered with water at spring-tides, 

 and thug converted into a large swamp, which is thickly wooded. It 

 is uncultivated, and nearly uninhabited, except by some straggling 

 families on the banks of the rivers. At the back of it the country 

 rites with a moderate elevation and stretches out into a level plain to 

 the bage of the mountain-region. It is traversed by several large 

 rivers, which on entering the low part of the country expand to a 

 great width. The country is tolerably well peopled. The southern 

 part of the plain, or that which fronts the Java Sea between Lucepara 

 Point and Tanjong Toca, is less known than any other part of Sumatra 

 near the sea. Though low, it seems to be sufficiently elevated to be 

 beyond the reach of the inundations at high tides. Towards the inte- 

 rior the land rises, but the rivers and among them the large river 

 Tulan Booang, run through a wide depression, which during the rainy 

 season is entirely covered with water by the inundation of the rivers. 



The distinction of dry and wet seasons can hardly be applied to this 

 pl.iiii. Neither the north-east nor the south-west moil-toon is felt iu 

 all its force. The prevailing winds from March to September are the 

 laud and pea breezes, which are usually steady in the night, but f.iint 

 and frequently interrupted by long calms in the day. In the season 

 of the south-west monsoon the Sumatra*, as they are called, blow, 

 especially in the first part of the night. They are sudden squalls, 

 sometimes extremely severe, and are accompanied with tremendous 

 limn 1. r and lightning and henry rain. The north-western, which 

 are less frequent, are likewise severe at the beginning, but they soon 

 bate. The greatest quantity of rain falls in this season. The north- 

 east monsoon is somewhat more regular, only interrupted by the land 

 and sea breeze*. Calms are less frequent than in the south-west 

 monsoon, the breezes are steady, and the weather is much more nettled. 

 Th heat in summer U great, and at that period the air is saturated 

 with moisture. In the dry season, on the other hand, it U moderated 

 by the steady breezes. The climate of this tract is considered 

 unhealthy for Europeans. 



The islands which lin near the north-eastern coast of Sumatra, 

 within the Strait of Malacca, are uniformly low, and their soil appears 

 to be chiefly composed of alluvium ; but the south-western coast of 

 the island, between 3 N. lat. and 3" S. lat, is fronted by a chain of 

 islands distant from it a little more than a degree. The most northern 

 is called by our navigators Hog Island, by the Malays Pulo Babi, and 

 by the natives Si Malu. It it about 50 miles long and about 10 or 12 

 miles broad, high, hilly, and oovered with trees. Pulo Nias, the 

 largest UUnd of this chain, extends nearly in a south-east direction 

 about 70 mile*, with an average width somewhat exceeding 18 miles. 

 Many small islands line its shores, and the coast is generally steep. 

 The land is usually high, well clothed with trees, and partly cultivated 

 by the natives with rice. The inhabitants are very numerous. Pulo 

 Nias produces rice, yams, and beans for exportation ; also poultry, 

 buffaloea, cattle, and goats in abundance. It has several good" har- 

 bour.'. Pulo Batu, commonly called Pulo Mintno. extends north and 

 south about 43 miles, and is about IS miles wide. It is situated 

 immediately south of the equator. Only the northern part of the 

 island is inhabited. It produces sago, cocoa-nuts, hogs, poultry, and 

 trepang. Dammar, cocoa-nuts, cocoa-nut oil, and trepang are exported 

 to Padang. Si Becroo, or North Porah, called Great Fortune by the 

 Dutch, extends nearly north-west and south-east about 80 miles, with 

 an average breadth of 12 miles. It is generally high land, covered 

 with wood. Between this island and South Porah is Seaflower's 

 Channel, which is more than 8 miles wide. Si Porah, or South Porah, 

 extends from north-west in a direction nearly south-cast about 36 

 iu length. There are three good harbours on the east side 

 Hurlock's Hay, Si Ooban Bay, and Si Labbah Bay. It is less elevated 

 than Si Beeroo. Between this island and North Poggy is Nassau Strait, 

 which is about 10 miles wide, and very safe. Then follow North and 

 Sooth Poggy islands. [NA.SSAO ISLANDS, vol. iii., col. 916.] At a great 

 distance to the south is Engano Island, which has a triangular form, 

 and U about 24 miles long and 13 miles broad in the widest part. It 



is protected by a rocky shore. On the east side is an anchorage, but 

 landing is very difficult. The inhabitants are much averse to inter- 

 course with foreigners. They speak a language different from that of 

 the other islands and of Sumatra. In the long and wide strait which 

 separates the chain of islands just noticed from the main body of 

 Sumatra, are the Bauiah Islands, or Pulo Bania (that is, Many Islands). 

 These islands produce chiefly trepang and edible birds'-nests. 



According to Marsden, these islands, with the exception of Engano, 

 whose inhabitants seem to belon; to another race, are occupied by 

 two nations, both of which belong to the race of the Malays, but con- 

 siderably differ in stature nnd language. The inhabitants of the islands 

 north of 1 S. lat, are called Maruwia. The nation inhabiting the 

 islands south of 1 S. lat. are called Pagi, and are heathens. 



Riven. The most important of the rivers which drain the south- 

 west coast, which are navigated by small craft to some distance from 

 their mouth, are from south to north as follows : The Kataun (3 20' 

 S. lat), the Ipoo (3 5' S. lat.), the Indrapura (2 S. lat.), the Tabu- 

 yong (40' N. lat), the Batang Tara (1 25' N. lat), and the Sinkel 

 (2 15' N. lat). The last-mentioned river is much the largest on this 

 coast, and its course considerably exceeds 100 miles. In the low 

 country it is joined by the Sikeri, about 20 miles from its mouth. It 

 is navigable for the greater part of its course for boats, and up to its 

 confluence with the Sikeri the river is deep enough for vessels of con- 

 siderable burden, but the bar at its mouth is dangerous. 



The rivers which rise in the mountain region, and, traversing tho 

 eastern plain, fill into the Straits of Malacci and Banca, or into the 

 China Sea, are larger and much better adapted for inland navigation. 

 The most northern of them is the Delli River, which reaches the sea 

 in 3 46' S. lat Its mouth is a quarter of a mile wide, and has two 

 fathoms depth at its bar at low water, so as to admit vessels of mode- 

 rate size. The Batu-Bhara River enters the sea iu 3 13' N. lat., and 

 forms a small harbour at its mouth only accessible for small vessels. 

 The Assahan River, which falls into the sea near 3 N. Int., forms at 

 its mouth a harbour for small vessels. 



The Kakan River is rather a wide cestuary, which receives two con- 

 siderable streams, than a river. These rivers at their confluence, which 

 is more than 30 miles from the sea, are about a mile and a half wide. 

 The river formed by their junction is about 2 miles wide, and con- 

 tinues so for several miles, when it enlarges to 4 miles, and where it 

 reaches the sea it is 15 miles wide. At its mouth there are two low 

 said woody islands, between which is the entrance to the river. The 

 navigation of this river is dangerous, on account of the excessive 

 rapidity of the tides and the very high bore thereby occasioned. The 

 river is almost dry at low water of spring-tides. 



The Slack River, which runs more than 200 miles measured along 

 iU coarse, risen in the mountain region, and probably on the northern 

 declivity of Mount Knauiuba, or in its neighbourhood. By this river 

 the gold which U collected in the mountains of Menaugcabau H 

 brought to the Strait of Malacca. The river at it.i mouth is only 

 three-quarters of a mile wide, but it is very deep. The entrance of 

 the river U further narrowed by a sandy spit, which is nearly dry at 

 low water. 



The Kampar falls into the Strait of Malacca at its most southern 

 extremity, nearly opposite the Strait of Singapore. Its upper course 

 lies within the mountain region. The harbour at the mouth of the 

 river is not much visited by European vessels, on account of the 

 velocity of the tides, which rise 15 feet, and run from 4 to 6 miles per 

 hour. They produce a considerable bore. Coffee nnd other articles 

 of trade ore brought from this river to Singapore by the Malays in 

 boats. 



The river Indragiri, which falls into the Strait of Durian opposite 

 tho island of Lingin, rises in the centre of Menangcabau, in the Lake 

 of Sinkara, a little more than 1000 feet above the sea-level, and runs 

 about 100 miles within the mountain region in a south-eastern direction. 

 Its exit from that region is marked by a cataract near a place called 

 Sulukn. The mouth of the river is very wide, but subject to a very 

 dangerous bore : it ia r.irely visited by European vessels, but tho 

 Malays bring from it great quantities of rice to Singapore. The whole 

 course of the Indrngiri probably is not less than 300 miles. 



The lambie River drains a great extent of country. One of its 

 upper branch's rises in St. George's Lake, in the country of tho 

 Kurinchi. The several branches which flow from the mountains unite 

 nearly midway between tin mountains and the shore, about 100 miles 

 from the mouth of the river. Below the town of lambie the river 

 divides into two arms, which unite about 30 miles from the sea, and 

 inclose an island 30 miles long and 10 miles wide. Lower down the 

 river divides again into two arms, which inclose a large delta. The 

 western arm is called Qualla Nior and the eastern Qualhi Sadda, and 

 both of them divide again as they approach the sea. Only the most 

 eastern and western arms are navigable for vessels of small burden, 

 and even in these the navigation is intricate and dangerous, on account 

 of the shoals and sand-banks. 



The largest river of Sumatra is the Palembang, whose numerous 

 upper branches originate in the mountain region between 2" 30' and 

 5 S. lat. The most southern of them brings down the waters of the 

 largj Like of Italian. The best known of these rivers is that which 

 rises in the district of Musi, immediately at the back of the rangd of 

 hills visible from Bencoolen, and, on that account, has the name of 



