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very much in character, some being forest-clad, others 
bare; some extremely fertile, others sterile. Of the 
latter class is the plain of Pertibi, situated in the country 
of the Battaks, in lat. 1° 20' N., on the eastern side of 
the mountains. Mr. Wilier, a Dutch writer, thus describes 
it:—■“ Descending from Gunong-Tuah we see unrolled 
before us a plain without horizon, and without variety 
except such as may be caused by the presence or absence 
of the rank and worthless lalang grass (.Andropogon carico- 
sum). On this plain not a single living creature appears 
to move ; trees are rare, and have the appearance of being 
stunted and dwarfed. At the distance of miles we may 
descry, as an oasis in the desert, an insignificant thicket, 
or a small strip of brushwood along the banks of a marsh 
or brook. A fell, scorching wind blows for months 
together, and from the numerous conflagrations spreads 
a dull haze, through which the sunlight scarcely forces 
itself — wavering and heavy. In a word, all nature 
appears to have gone to an eternal sleep. Such is the 
appearance of Padang-luwas (spacious plain), whose naked 
and flat surface offers no other diversity than the ravines 
and morasses with which it is intersected. The upper 
soil is of the most meagre and unfruitful kind, and is 
seldom more than six inches in depth. Beneath, we 
come to layers of white clay, limestone, and sandstone. 
The climate is extremely variable. Frequently, in the 
afternoon, we have a temperature of from 92° to 97° 
Fahr., and in the night of from 63° to 66°. The heat is 
accompanied by great dryness. A violent storm, for the 
greatest part of the year, day after day bellows from the 
west over Padang-luwas. Like the mistral , this wind 
has a strong desiccating power, cracking the ground, and 
in a few minutes removing all traces of mud and rain.” 
The neighbouring district of Mandeling, on the western 
