SUMATRA 171 



very much in character, some being forest-clad, others 

 bare ; some extremely fertile, othei's sterile. Of the 

 latter class is the plain of Pertibi, situated in the country 

 of the Battaks, in lat. 1° 20' N"., on the eastern side of 

 the mountains. Mr. Wilier, a Dutch writer, thus describes 

 it : — ■" Descending from Gunong-Tuah we see unrolled 

 before us a plain without horizon, and without variety 

 except such as may be caused by the presence or absence 

 of the rank and worthless lalang grass {Andropogon carico- 

 sum). On this plain not a single living creature appears 

 to move ; trees are rare, and have the appearance of being 

 stunted and dwarfed. At the distance of miles we may 

 descry, as an oasis in the desert, an insignificant thicket, 

 or a small strip of brushwood along the banks of a marsh 

 or brook. A fell, scorching wind blows for months 

 together, and from the numerous conflagrations spreads 

 a dull haze, through which the sunlight scarcely forces 

 itself — wavering and heavy. In a word, all nature 

 appears to have gone to an eternal sleep. Such is the 

 appearance of Padang-luwas (spacious plain), whose naked 

 and flat surface offers no other diversity than the ravines 

 and morasses with which it is intersected. The upper 

 soil is of the most meagre and unfruitful kind, and is 

 seldom more than six inches in depth. Beneath, we 

 come to layers of white clay, limestone, and sandstone. 

 The climate is extremely variable. Frequently, in the 

 afternoon, we have a temperature of from 92° to 97 

 Fahr., and in the night of from 63° to 66°. The heat is 

 accompanied by great dryness. A violent storm, for the 

 greatest part of the year, day after day bellows from the 

 west over Padang-luwas. Like the mistral, this wind 

 has a strong desiccating power, cracking the ground, and 

 in a few minutes removing all traces of mud and rain." 

 The neighbouring district of Mandeling, on the western 



