34 
S U M A T R 
Difiinciion of Inhabitants, — Rejangs chofen for General Defer ipfhn, 
— Fer/ons and Complexioiu — Ch thing and ornaments. 
count of tht H A VING exhibited a general view of the iflandj as it is in the hands 
Inhabitants, of nature, I ihall now proceed to a defcription of the people who in- 
habit aod cultivate it, and fliall endeavour to diftinguifli the feveral 
fpecies or claffes of them^ in fuch a manner as may belt tend to perfpi- 
cuitjr, and to furnilli clear ideas of the matter, 
Vainotismt)<ies The moft obviouJ divilloa, and which has been ufually made by the 
writers of voyages, b that of Mahomtm inhabitants of the kz coaftj and 
Pagans of the inland country. This divifion, though not without it% 
degree of propriety, is vague and imperfedt; nocoaly becaufe each de- 
fcription of people difiei confiderably among tbemfelves, but that the 
inland inhabitants are, iii fome placq^^ Mahometans^ and thofe of the 
coaft, in others, what they term Pagans. It is not unufual with perfons 
who have not refidcd in this part of the eaft, to call the inhabitants of the 
iilands indifcriminately by the nanie of Malays. This is a more confi- 
derable error, and produ£tive of greater confulion than the fdrmer. By 
attempting to reduce things to heads too spn^-r^i, defeat the very end 
we propofe to ourfclves in defining them at all : we create obfcurity 
where we wifh to throw light. On the other hand, to attempt enume- 
rating and diftinguiihmg the variety, ahnoft endlefs, of petty Jbvereign- 
tics and nations, into which this ifland is divided, many of which differ 
nothing in perfon or manners from their neighbours, would be a taifc 
both impoffible and ufelefs. I (hall aim at fleering a middle courfe, and 
accordingly fliall treat of the inhabitants of Sumatra under the following 
fummary difun^rions ; taking occalion as it may offer, to mention the 
principal fubdivifions. And fir ft, it is proper to diftinguiih the empire 
of 
