SUMATRA; 
fide ; owing to tlie fupplies of fak and other articles, which they are re- 
gularly furnifiied with from the Eaglifli fettlements, and by traders from 
the contiaent of India, 
The country is divided into z numbe^r of diftrifts, of which the fol- DiviiGaji* 
lowing are the principal ; Ancola ; Padamhhi \ Mmdetling ; Toba \ Se- 
Undongi and Sinhil, The inhabitants of thefe are fubdivided agaiFi 
into tribes; of which Areola has five, Mandeding three, and To/:^ five : 
the others I am not informed of. 
Our fettlements in this part of the ifiand, are at ^^al (^Natar) EngHfli r«tle- 
and Tjppan^ofym At the former the communication with the EmtMs is 
indirect ; none of them refiding on the fpof. \ It is inhabited by jKrfons 
fettled there, for the convenience of trade, from the neigh bourir^g coun- 
tries of Acheen^ Rou and McmngcaboWy and is by their concourfe and traf* 
fick, populous and rich. A large quantity of gold is procured from the 
country, (fome of the mines, or pits, lying within ten miles of the fac- 
tory), and a confiderable vent is found for imponed goods. Like other 
Malay towns, it is eoverned by Dattcos, one of whom is ftyled Dattoa baf- 
far^ or chief magiftrate, and his fway is very great. Although the in* 
fluence of the English company here is extenfive, their authority is by no 
means fo firmly eftablifhed, as in the pepper provinces, to the fouthwardi 
owing to the numbers of people, their wealth, and enterprizing^ inde- 
pendent fpirit.* They find the Englifh convenient for their proteOion 
* Upon the reeftabli(hment of the factory in 176*, the refiJent pointed out t«> the Duttm hujfar^ 
with a degree of indignation, itie number of dead bodies which were frequently fceti floatiiig 
down the riverj, and propofcd his cooperating to prevent aflaffinations in the country \ occalioned 
by the anarchy the place fell into* during the temporary interruption of the company's infitience* 
** I. cannot alTent to any meaftires for that purpofc, replied the datmi I reap from thefe murders 
an advantage of tvu-enty doUars a bead^ whea tive families profecutc.'' A compen&ttoa of tl^rty 
dollars per month was oiercd him, and to this he fcarcely fubmitted, obferving that he fliould 
be a confvderabJe lofer, as there fell in this manner at Icaft three nften in the month. At another 
timc» when the reftdent attempted to caiTy fome regulation into execution, he faid, *• camu tro' 
dah f9iic<j h^Htdf orofig cqye {" " we do not chufe to allow it, Slrj" and bared his right arm, 
a fignal of attack to hi$ dependants^ in cafe the point had been infiiled on. Of late yeara^ 
habit, and a fenfe of mutual intereft, haYc rendered them more accommodating, 
from 
