534 
THE ORANG KOMRING. 
[It is stated in the Singapore Free Press of the 3rd instant “ that 
disturbances have lately occurred at Koraring under the Government of 
Palembang, owing to the determination of the inhabitants to resist the 
levy of a poll tax of 6 rupees, and the forced labour imposed by the 
Dutch Government. We have not yet learned the particulars. It 
would appear that the former Pangeran of the district, disgusted with the 
duties imposed on him, had resigned his office and returned to Palem¬ 
bang, and that his successor had failed in reconciling the inhabitants 
to exactions to which they had not been accustomed. This disturbance 
appears to be considered as serious by the Supreme Government, who 
have ordered the immediate despatch of three War Steamers and 1,000 
soldiers from Batavia.’’ As we merely mentioned the name of this 
people in our General Sketch of Sumatra (ante p. 354), we here give 
a short notice of them, translated from the Tijdschriftv . Neerl.Ind. ed.] 
The character of the inhabitants of Komring, and especially those of 
KomringUlu, is more substantial than that of the Ogan people ; they have 
a peculiar language, their writing in letter and sound agrees much with 
that of the Battas, their religion is in general heathenism; worshippers 
of images, they firmly believe in the transmigration of the soul. 
This people are bold and determined; and it is an extremely rare event 
that one of their dusons or talangs is attacked, because they can stoutly 
defend their lives and property. They are also more industrious than 
the rest of the inhabitants, and it is from their country that most pepper 
is brought to market. They hold fast their ancient customs ; th ejujur* * * § 
is highly respected; and yet this people are obedient and submissive 
to all rules and commands. Although many of their dusons are about 
as populous as other dusons, the houses are fewer; they are large, 
roomy and strong, constructed of line wooden work, and not seldom 
ornamented with varied carving; they sometimes contain from 10 to 20 
families who live peaceably together, f 
The so called menareh (dancing) and herswara (singing) also differ in 
Komring from what they are in the other districts. The young girls 
dress better, are more pleasing in their movements, and their voice is 
more harmonious than that of women of the country usually is in 
singing. We have frequently witnessed that girls by the gift of song 
are able, in free, agreeable and melodious tones, to pour forth improvised 
couplets and verses in honor of persons and events, t In former days 
the concubines of the Sultan were chosen from the fair sex in Komring. 
Under the division of Komring is the district of Panan, with a small 
population of about 3,000 souls settled around the large and beautiful 
lake of Banau.^ This lake, in a basin amidst hills, gives to the 
population an abundant livelihood. The Ranau .tobacco is the kind 
in so much request in the Archipelago, and the value of which at 
Palembang rises from 40 sometimes to 200 and more guilders the pikul, 
prepared in the Indian manner. 
* See Marsden’s Sumatra. 
t In preserving this Indo-Chinese custom the Komring agree with the Korinchi 
(General Sketch of Sumatra ante p. 363), whom they also resemble in character 
and habits.—E d. 
t This is a common accomplishment amongst the more civilised Malayan races. 
—Ed. 
§ Ran an=Dan au (Lang. Ind. Arch, ante Vol. II. p. 230) means a lake in most 
of the Malayan languages in which it occurs. In Job ore it is also applied to a 
broad reach in a river.—E». 
