108 AUSTEALASIA. 



Chinese. Pepper, the lada or piper nigrum, introduced from India, is generally 

 cultivated in the district, yielding in times of peace as much as forty-five million 

 pounds, or two-thirds of the quantity consumed in the whole world. According 

 to Van der Tunk the native idea is that the Europeans, living in a cold and 

 damp climate, stuff their mattresses with this spice to keep themselves warm at 

 night. 



East of Atjeh, on the Areca coast, as it is called, because it is fringed with the 

 Areca or betel-nut palm, the Dutch hold two other stations, Segli, near the 

 northern slopes of the Goudberg, and Edi, south of Diamond Point. In the 

 neighbouring district of Pasei formerly stood the city of Sumadra, whence the 

 island takes its name. On the west or " Pepper coast," which is subject to slow 

 upheaval, the chief port is Kluang, noted for its vast caves frequented by myriads 

 of edible-nest builders. Some 60 miles farther south lies the port at the mouth 

 of the Te nom where the British ship Nisero was wrecked in 1883, and the whole crew 

 captured and subjected to great hardships in captivity. Three years previously two 

 French travellers in search of gold mines had been assassinated on the same river. 

 Yet within thirty miles farther south the little port of Malabuh [Analahii) is occupied 

 by a Dutch garrison. To escape from foreign rule most of the natives have fled 

 to the coast town of Wailah, between Tenom and Malabuh. The latter place, 

 which has some gold- washings and coal-beds, is followed southwards by the port 

 of Tampat Tmcan, which trades with the neighbouring island of Babi. 



SingheJ, formerly capital of a kingdom and now the chief town of a division of 

 the Tapanuli province, lies on an island at the mouth of a river surrounded by 

 pestiferous swamps. Nevertheless, the place is visited by some Chinese traders, 

 who take camphor, benzoin, and holothurias in exchange for opium and rice. 

 Baros, lying in a more healthy district farther south, was also a royal residence 

 before the arrival of the Dutch, and at present does a considerable trade with 

 Gunung Sitoli, capital of Nias. Beyond it follows Sibogha, on an inlet of the deep and 

 spacious TapanuK Baj^, one of the best harbours in the world, affording excellent 

 anchorage close in shore. Sibogha is one of the points whence travellers penetrate 

 inland to the Batta countr}'. On the eastern and south-eastern heights of the 

 neighbouring plateaux lie several commercially and strategically important places^ 

 such as Sipù'ok, Padang Sidempuan, and Perf/hi, noted for its Buddhist ruins. 

 Southwards in the direction of Padang follow the little-frequented ports of Natale 

 Ajer Bang is, and Priamau. 



Padang, the most flourishing place on the west coast, presents the aspect 

 rather of a large park than of a great commercial mart. Except in the central 

 quarter occupied by the public buildings, the only structures are the low dwellings 

 of the Malays, Javanese, Chinese, and Niassi Islanders, overshadowed by cocoanut - 

 palms and mangoes, and surrounded by gardens, ricefields, and plantations of all 

 the tropical growths valuable for their bark, gums, flowers, and fruits. In the 

 distance rises the smoking cone of Talang, and southwards, beyond the little river 

 Padang, stands the Apenberg, or " Ape Hill," so named from the quadrumana who 

 here dwell peaceably under the protection of the natives. The exports, averaging 



