THE NETHERLANDS-EAST-INDIES. 15 



rivers navigable far inland, so that the traveller may advantageously 

 make use of water-traffic. 



Railroads and tramways are still rare; although some are in the 

 course of construction. In later years a regular motor-car service 

 has been established by the Government between the principal 

 places; chiefly in behalf, of postal conveyance; the extension of 

 this service having followed the improvement of the highways. 

 They are motor- vans, on which there are seats for 5 or 6 

 first class passengers, room for a fairly large number of natives 

 and a limited quantity of luggage. They do not cover more than 

 about 150 KM. a day, and the seats are not very comfortable, but 

 they are convenient and cheap. Such conveyances are to be found 

 in Benkoelen, Palembang, Sumatra's West-coast, Tapanoeli and Deli. 

 The traveller can obtain at "Weltevreden at the Department of Go- 

 vernment Works (Gouvernements Bedrijven) and of course on the 

 spot further information about time-table etc. 



In addition private motor-cars are to be had in many places, 

 and sometimes even motor-vans which are, however, rather expensive. 

 The luggage therefore will usually have to be conveyed in native 

 carts (pedati's). It should be borne in mind, that these do not carry 

 very much and do not cover more than 20 K.M. in 24 hours. 

 Since the same cart does not go far from its station, the goods 

 have to be transferred several times if the distance is considerable. 

 In that case the traveller will do better to apply to a contractor 

 and draw up a written contract. 



In Sumatra the distances along the highroads are indicated in 

 various ways. The old Sumatra paal" (distance 1 nautical mile = 

 1851 M.) has nearly everywhere been replaced by the w Java paal" 

 (1507 M.), while the roads for motor-traffic have been provided 

 with kilometer-stones. 



From Palembang there is a regular service with so-called stern- 

 wheelers along the Moesi River and its principal tributaries (by 

 the K. P. M. and by Chinamen). In these boats there is sitting- 

 and sleeping-accommodation for European passengers. However they 

 cannot always reach their terminus in the dry monsoon. Some of 

 these vessels also as well as some steam-launches can be hired for 

 private use. 



When going between towns without train, tram, or motor-car 

 conveyance, the traveller has to take recourse either to small native 

 carts, offering little comfort and less room and which consequently 

 are very tiring on long distances; or to riding on horseback. Not 

 everywhere however are there horses to be had. The harnesses 



2 



