371 THE BATTAS OP MANDHELING AND PERTIBI. 
tains of Sumatra, and, like that fine river, become broader 
and broader the further we proceed to the westand north. The 
high chain of mountains are covered to their summits with 
stately woods which produce abundance of timber and other 
valuable articles. On the lower mountains too, woods are 
here and there dispersed, and these are commonly adorned 
with the areen tree which furnishes a wild palm-wine, while 
some bare red spots occasionally indicate gold mines, which 
however can seldom be considered as signs of true pros¬ 
perity. We may more safely give way to satisfaction when 
we see the well watered rice fields which, in small vallies 
like amphitheatres, climb up a considerable portion of the 
acclivities, and in the distance extend to an invisible boun¬ 
dary. Nowhere does the landscape weary. The eye rests 
constantly on ornamental groups of bambus and various 
trees, or on the small clumps in which the kampongs lie 
concealed, their positions indicated by an abundance of co- 
coanuts and pinangs. The coffee gardens which we see in 
the plains evince a first development of industry, which is 
further shewn by good broad roads and tolerable bridges. 
Towards evening we observe near the kampongs numerous 
herds of buffaloes, cattle and goats; while men, well fed 
and well clothed, and, what is still more, a superabundance of 
children, prove that in this favoured region the greatest 
prosperity has reigned for some years. 
The division consists of the following districts : 
1st.— Great Mandheling , containing a surface of 25 square 
geographical miles* and having as districts : 
a. KoMa Siantar, with 43 kampongs and containing 
3,221 households. 
b. Penjabungan , 20 kamp. 1,172 
-63 kamp. 4,393 households 
2nd.— Little Mandheling , 20 
square geographical miles hav¬ 
ing as districts: 
a. S~ng-ing-u, 7 kamp. 564 
b. Tambangan , 11 „ 794 
c. Tamiang , 7 „ 574 
d. Menambin, 11 „ 1,021 
-36 
3rd.—- Ulu , having as districts : 
a. Pinyonghei , 5 kamp. 102 
b. Simp art Men - 
damp a , 6 „ 249 
c. BatangGadis f V$ „ 351 
* Dutch. " — 24 
2,953 
702 
