PLATEAU OF THE MUSI. 499 



valley of the River Musi, wliicli takes its rise a little 

 farther to the north. In the midst of this valley was 

 the kampong and Dutch post Kopaiyong. Beyond the 

 valley rose an active volcano, Mount Ulu Musi, with 

 three peaks. The largest and the oldest was quiet, and 

 beyond it was a second and somewhat smaller cone, 

 evidently of a more recent origin than the former, but 

 also inactive. Beyond this cone was a third, yet smaller, 

 from the top of which great quantities of steam and 

 other gases were ascending in dense volumes. 



From this pass our descent was as rapid as our 

 ascent had been on the coast side, until we came 

 down to the banks of the Musi, and the valley in 

 which the village of Kopaiyong is situated. The 

 height of this plateau above the sea is from fifteen to 

 eighteen hundred feet. It is a complete analogue of 

 the plateau about the lake of Sinkara, and all the 

 others between the Barizan and its parallel chains 

 to the northward. Its soil is a fine, black loam. Its 

 chief products are tobacco and coffee, which both 

 thrive here very well. This is considered, and no 

 doubt rightly, a very healthy place. There are no 

 " wet or dry seasons," as in Java, but showers occur 

 here every few days, generally in the afternoon. 

 Although the soil and climate of this valley are so 

 favoraljle for the development of civilization, yet the 

 natives in all this region, until a few years ago, only 

 clothed themselves with the bark of trees. This pla- 

 teau has lacked, however, one inducement toward ])ro- 

 moting industry and civdlizatiou which that of Me- 

 nangkabau possesses, and that is gold. In the coast 

 region, the houses of the natives have high, sharp 



