of the Island of Sumatra, Ss^. 399 



At Nattal^ the next station to the southward, the mountains recede to some 

 distance from the coast, leaving a portion of level land, through which the 

 river pursues a winding course to the sea. There is a small detached hill near 

 its mouth entirely composed of limestone, of which a great quantity in loose 

 blocks and fragments is strewed at the bottom. The soft argillaceous iron 

 ore, commonly called ruddle, has also been procured from the upper part of 

 the river. 



Inland of Tappanooly and Nattal, lies the country of the Battas, in which 

 the position of the great lake of Tobah, not laid down in our maps, has lately 

 been determined. It lies about fifty miles north-east of Tappanooly. 



The Batang Tava and Sinkuang have been represented as inconsiderable 

 streams, while they are in fact among the largest rivers on the western coast ; 

 the former having its source in the mountains of Diri, to the north of Tap- 

 panooly, and the latter rising in Gunong Kalaber, the southern boundary of 

 the Batta country, and watering in its source the whole province of Mendhe- 

 ling. The Tabuyong on the other hand, which is represented by Mr. Mars- 

 den as the largest river between Tappanooly and Nattal, is in fact small, and 

 does not penetrate beyond the first range of hills. 



The province of Mendheling, which lies inland of Nattal, has long been 

 celebrated for its gold, which is of the finest quality. It is said to possess 

 upwards of seven hundred mines, and its annual export of gold probably does 

 not fall short of a thousand tales. 



At Ayer Bangy, where the hills again approach the sea, granite makes its 

 appearance. This place lies nearly due east from Gunong Pasaman (known 

 in our charts by the name of Mount Ophir), a remarkable conical mountain, 

 whose height was some years ago estimated at 13,800 feet above the level of 

 the sea, its latitude at 6' north, and its distance from the coast about 26 miles. 

 On its north-eastern side is the source of the great river of the Soompoor or 

 Rukan, which crosses the island in a north-easterly direction, passing through 

 the fertile valley of Rau, at its exit from whence it bursts through the range 

 of mountains forming the eastern boundary of that country ; and after pre- 

 cipitating itself over a considerable fall, enters the district of Rukan, from 

 which it receives its name in this part of its course. 



To the southward of Rau lie the provinces of Agam, Rana-lima-pulo, and 

 Menangkabau, which, collectively distinguished by the appellation of the "Da- 

 rat," or " the Land," constituted the ancient empire of Menangkabau. In the 

 territory which was formerly included in that empire, the population is at 

 present estimated at not less than a million and a half; and some of the vil- 

 lages or towns are several miles in circumference. The Siak river, which is 



VOL. VI. 3 F 



