2^2 
SUMATRA. 
Tb$ cmntry of Bana — Its produBtms^The inhabitants—Ac^ 
count of their manners^ governments and fornt extraordinary 
cufloms. 
1 HE next confidcrable diftm&ion of people, as we advance to t^e 
northward, is the nation of the Bat! as ^ whofe remarkable diiiimilitudc, 
in the genius of their cuftoms and manners, to the other inhabitants of 
the ifland, renders it neceffary that a particular degree of attention ihould 
be paid to their defcription. Although thefe people had frequently 
been mentioned by old writers, yet it was not until about the year 1751, 
when the Engliih fettled at Natal ^ and formed connexions in that part 
of the country, that they became properly known to any European, 
and their ufages, extraordinary in fome inftances, were accurately afcer- 
tained* 
Situation of '^^^ countr\^of Sdtta may be faid, in a fummary way, to be bounded 
ihc country* ^^^^ north, by that of Acheen^ and to the fouth, by Pajfumman and 
the independent diftrid of Rou or Am : but more precifely, it is mar- 
ked as extending from the great river of Smkell, to that of Tahceyong^ 
on the fea coaft, and inland^ as far fouth as Ajcr Bongey^ at the back of 
which the Rm people commence. The country is very populous, but 
tHe bulk of the people rcfide at a diflance from the fea, in the central 
parts of the land, in extenfive plains between two ridges of hills, on the 
borders of a great lake ; where the foil is fertile, and cultivation fo 
much more prevalent, than in the fouthern diftrife, which are covered 
with woods, that there is fcarce a tree to be fcen but what the natives 
themfelves have planted for ufe. The ifland being very narrow in this 
part,] their towns lie, as well on the rivers that difcharge themfelves 
into the Straits of Malacca, as thofe which have their courfc towards the 
Wefl coafl ; but their communication is now more open with this latter 
iide; 
