SUMATRA 2 D 



volcano, but the outpvit of both metals is insignificant. 

 Iron has been dug and smelted for ages by the ]\Ieuaiig- 

 kabo Malays. Concessions were granted in 1891 for 

 working some petroleum wells lately discovered, sulphur 

 is abundantly obtained from the craters of various vol- 

 canoes, and it is probable that antimony is also existent. 

 The industries of the island are not numerous. Krisses 

 are largely made, especially in Menangkabo, and the work- 

 manship is often excellent, as is the embossed gold-w(»rlv 

 of their sheaths. The silk sarongs worked with gold 

 thread are as fine as those made in Brunei, and as costly, 

 but they are chiefly made by immigrant workmen. Palem- 

 bang is celebrated for its manufacture of furniture, but 

 this also is foreign labour, the greater part of it being 

 constructed by Chinese. 



10. Population and Political Divisions. 



The population of Sumatra has been given at 3|- 

 millions, but it is probable that this is an under-estima- 

 tion. So much of the country, however, is unknown, 

 that guesswork rather than calculation comes into play. 

 Ache, the highlands of Padang, and the Palembang 

 divisions are all stated to have over 500,000 inhabitants, 

 and the two first named are the most thickly populated 

 portions of the island. The Dutch have divided the 

 island and its satellites into nine administrative divisions, 

 viz. (1) The Government of Ache and its Dependencies ; 

 (2) the Government of the West Coast; (3) the Ptesi- 

 dency of Benkulen ; (4) the Residency of the Lampongs ; 

 (5) the Ptesidency of Palembang ; (6) the Ptesidency of 

 the East Coast; (7) the Ptesidency of Rhio and its 

 Dependencies ; (8) the Residency of Bangka and (9) 

 the Assistant-Residency of Blitong. 



p 



