SUiMATlLV 175 



and admit of steamer service far into tlie interior. The 

 Jambi Eiver, better known as the Batang-Hari, is the 

 largest, and, disregarding the windings of the upper part 

 of its course, exceeds 500 miles in length. It is prac- 

 ticable for the transport of merchandise for quite 480 

 miles, and the Dutch Government vessel Barito, a paddle- 

 wheel steamer with a draught of over five feet, navigated 

 it for a distance of 370 miles without difficulty. It 

 drains a vast area, and is connected with some of the 

 most beautiful and fertile districts of the Padang high- 

 lands by its affluents, many of which are of large size. 

 It is thus not only valuable as affording an easy means 

 of access to the Ombilin coal-fields, but eminently im- 

 portant for commerce both with the eastern parts of the 

 " West Coast Government " and with the inland districts 

 of Jambi and Korinchi, and before long its farthest 

 navigable point will doubtless be connected with the 

 network of Government roads on the western side of the 

 island. The Musi or Palembang Eiver is scarcely inferior 

 to the Batang-Hari, being about 400 miles in length, of 

 which distance the Barito was able to navigate rather 

 more than half. The upper part, however, together with 

 its numerous tributaries, is navigable right up to the 

 mountain range by praus and rahits, or large bamboo 

 rafts, upon which a vast amount of produce is carried to 

 Palembang. From the fact of this district having been 

 for some time settled, the trade is very considerable, and 

 gutta, rattan, and other forest products, together with 

 large numbers of buffaloes, are shipped from the large 

 up-country towns of Muara-Ptupit, Tcbbing-Tinggi, Muara 

 Inim, and Muara Dua, the river thus tapping the trade 

 of the districts along the mountain range for a distance 

 in width of more than 150 miles. Other great rivers 

 are the Siak, navigable for large vessels for 80 miles, the 



