Canmhalisvi^ and Customs of the Battas. 89 
no violence or treachery be committed : a man who carries his 
musket to the fair, sticks a green branch in the muzzle of it, iia 
proof of peaceable intentions. 
The Battas have a written' character peculiar to them- 
selves^ and books on various subjects : we have got an account 
of five or six. TKe country iti the interior is populous, and 
well cultivated, and farther, abounds in gold. Camphor and 
Bayamin are the wild products of their forests, and are pro- 
cured in no other part of the world. Thus, few countries sur- 
pass it in natural riches. The people in the interior have an 
diversion to the sight of the sea, thinking it the abode of evil 
spirits ; and the inhabitants of the coast are in consequence of 
this an inferior race. They acknowledge one Supreme God, and 
three inferior divinities. Their names shew them to be of Hindoo 
origin, as well as the title of their greatest chief, Sa Singa 
Malm Rajahi which is pure Sanscrit. 
So extraordinary a people would require to be better known^ 
and we shall probably sooner or later make an expeditioli into 
their country. This will be very practicable, as the chief of 
Baroos, one of our friends, has lately married the daughter of a 
Batta Chief. I should have mentioned that women are ex- 
cluded from their human feasts. Who knows but we may yet 
civilize and reclaim these people ; I think they have sterling 
good qualities that would make it worth while. At all events I 
should like to get among them, and have ocular proof of their 
customs ; it may be we shall yet be present at a human feast. 
We told the chiefs we were anxious to partake, and asked them 
what were the epicurean morsels. They laughed, but said the 
palms of the hands, and soles of the feet, were the pieces most 
prized. 
2. Account of the Camphor-tree of Sumatra. 
The Harbour of Tappanooly is a most noble and extensive 
one. The hills come down to its edge, and are clothed with 
luxuriant forests of Camphor, &c. One settlement is on a very 
small island in the middle of it, most romantically situated, 
where there is a small fort, two or three houses for the Resident 
and his assistants, and a small bazar of perhaps three or four 
hundred people. The population around is very scanty, arid 
their villages are situated in the hollow of the hillsy where they 
lie hid till you come close upon them. 
