SUMATRA 
209 
volcano, but the output of- both metals is insignificant. 
Iron has been dug and smelted for ages by the Menang- 
kabo Malays. Concessions were granted in 1891 for 
working some petroleum wells lately discovered, sulphur 
is abundantly obtained from the craters of various vol¬ 
canoes, and it is probable that antimony is also existent. 
The industries of the island are not numerous. Krisses 
are largely made, especially in Menangkabo, and the work¬ 
manship is often excellent, as is the embossed gold-work 
of their sheaths. The silk sarongs worked with gold 
thread are as fine as those made in Brunei, and as costly, 
but they are chiefly made by immigrant workmen. Palem- 
bang is celebrated for its manufacture of furniture, but 
this also is foreign labour, the greater part of it being 
constructed by Chinese. 
10. Population and Political Divisions. 
The population of Sumatra has been given at 3ijr 
millions, but it is probable that this is an under-estima¬ 
tion. So much of the country, however, is unknown, 
that guesswork rather than calculation comes into play. 
Ache, the highlands of Padang, and the Palembang 
divisions are all stated to have over 500,000 inhabitants, 
and the two first named are the most thickly populated 
portions of the island. The Dutch have divided the 
island and its satellites into nine administrative divisions, 
viz. (1) The Government of Ache and its Dependencies; 
(2) the Government of the West Coast; (3) the Resi¬ 
dency of Benkulen; (4) the Residency of the Lampongs; 
(5) the Residency of Palembang; (6) the Residency of 
the East Coast; (7) the Residency of' Rhio and its 
Dependencies; (8) the Residency of Bangka and (9) 
the Assistant-Residency of Blitong. 
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