506 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



pure Englisli. To be able to converse in tlie in- 

 terior of Sumatra, in my native tongue, was indeed a 

 pleasure I liad not anticipated. The distance from 

 Tanjong Agong to this place is eleven paals, about 

 ten miles. 



April '2^ til. — Continued down the north bank of 

 the Musi, which here flows to the northwest. For 

 three or four paals the path (for it cannot properly 

 be styled a road) was very narrow, and built on the 

 steep side of a mountain, at the foot of which the 

 Musi boils in a series of rapids. When within six 

 or seven miles of Tebing Tingi, we found the valley 

 much broken, and soon it became flat, and changed 

 in many places into morasses. Here we came to a 

 small stream, over which was a bamboo bridge, 

 supported by rattans fastened to the limbs of two 

 high, overhanging trees. This was so weak that 

 my guide directed me to dismount and pass on 

 foot. At 2 A. M. we arrived at Tebing Tingi, 

 where an assistant resident is stationed, who re- 

 ceived me politely, and urged me to remain with 

 him several days. Distance made to-day, seventeen 

 paals. The whole distance from Kopaiyong to this 

 place, forty - five paals, I have travelled with the 

 single horse given me by the controleur of that vil- 

 lage. Such is the generous manner in which the 

 Dutch officials treat those who come to them prop- 

 erly recommended by the higher authorities. 



After crossing the Barizan chain, and coming 

 down into this valley of the Musi, I have noticed 

 that the natives are of a lighter color, taller, and 

 more gracefully formed than those seen in the vicin- 



