THE INVESTIGATOR. JULY, 1821. A Short Account of the Battas, a Race of Cannibals in the Interior of Sumatra. 66 WE had intended to commence the present number of our work with some brief memoirs, in the form of an extended obituary, of a few of the most celebrated persons who died in the course of the last year: this intention, we have, however, been induced to abandon, by the arrival, just as these memoirs were going to press, of a volume of Malayan Miscellanies," the first book ever printed in the island of Sumatra; and from its pages we shall fill up the two sheets left for matter, which we should despair of rendering as interesting, and which, certainly, could not be as new to our readers. The following are the contents of this curious volume, presented by SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES, Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen, to one of the editors of the Investigator, who, together with his colleagues, has already been greatly indebted to his kindness, for some very valuable communications. "1. Description of Malayan Plants. By William Jack. No. 1.-2. Notes on Bali.-3. Annals of Achim, translated from the original MS.-4. A short account of the Battas.-5. Descriptions of Malayan Plants. By William Jack. No. 2.-6. Annotations and Remarks, with a view to illustrate the probable origin of the Dayaks, the Malays, &c.-7. Short Account of the Islands of Timor, Rotti, Savu, Solor, &c.-8. Sketch of Borneo, or Pulo Kalamantin. By J. Hunt.-9. Notices on Zoological subjects. By Messrs. Diard and Devaucel.-10. Some particulars relative to Sulo, in the Archipelago of Felicia. By J. Hunt.-11. Proceedings of the Native School Institution.-12. Meteorological Table, extracted from a Register kept at Bencoolen, during the years 1818 and 1819.-13. Poem in the Malay Language, descriptive of the Journey of the Lieut.-Governor to Menangcabow, in 1818." The fourth of these papers is, perhaps, the most curious; and as we are satisfied that the information it contains may be implicitly relied upon, we proceed to lay it before our VOL. III.-No. 5. B readers, without any other prefatory remark, than that we have reason to believe it to be the production of a gentleman, holding a very high office in the island, in which the singular race of people, which he describes, have long lived unnoticed by Europeans, and, indeed, almost unknown. "The Battas of the interior have an invincible prejudice to the sight of the sea, which they suppose to be the residence of evil spirits; and this circumstance added to the little communication they have with Malays or people of any intelligence, renders all account of this singular race of people extremely vague and limited. The sources of my information, are the chiefs of Tapanuli and Sorkom, the latter of whom have twice visited the Tohbah country, which is the parent state; consequently, these memorandums relate only to the countries interior, and to the northward of Tapanuli: excepting for produce, however, this description will answer for the countries to the southward of Tapanuli. The Batta country commences on the borders of the Acheen districts in the province of Karoh, as pointed out by Mr. Marsden in his Map of Sumatra, and extends to the back of Ayer Bonji south. The districts which are difficult of communication, and excite a desire of being known, are at a distance of from three to six days' journey inland. Their population is numerous, as may be well conjectured from the vast consumption of salt, which it is erroneous to suppose is eaten by the Battas in larger quantities, than by any other class of people. Their stature is much above the middle size, and their voice uncommonly strong and sonorous. The country is open and cultivated, snd the air keen and healthy. The space separating it from the sea-shore supports a race of people, inferior in stature, power, and wealth, but having a common origin with those of the interior. Whether the face of this part of the country, which is covered with impenetrable forests, produces a climate obnoxious to the constitution, I cannot pretend to say; but it is evident, that the inhabitants of these districts resemble those of the former in little more than their language. The population is also inferior; and their villages are at a greater distance from each other, on account of the necessity of choosing a spot favourable to cultivation, and contiguous to a rivulet; for which reason, they commonly reside in the valleys. I understand these parts to have been originally peopled by speculatists, wanderers, and outcasts from Tohbah, who, in the course of time, and from various causes, have established themselves into chiefships: hence the almost constant state of war in which they are engaged with each other. Among them, reside the Pangalongs, or traders, who keep open the communication with the interior countries, by conveying thither salt, iron, silk chindies, gongs, and other commodities from the settlements on the shore, receiving in payment, dollars, horses, and grain. The only mode of conveyance is on the backs of men; but in the interior, horses are made use of. Having remarked the distinction between the inhabitants of the interior, and those of the countries bordering on the seashore, I shall take the latter as the subject of these memorandums, which I shall proceed to state in succession, commencing with the most northern dominions of the Batta country. "Karow.-The men work mines, and the women manufacture cloth, and cultivate rice. They have been mostly converted to the Musselman faith. "Allas, Mahtumbulam.—Cultivate rice and tobacco, which they carry down to Sūsu. "Se Nandong.-Converted to Mahometanism by the king of Acheen: similar occupations. "Deiri District. - Divisions.- Se Kohtang, Kasujan, Tamongoh, Bannoriah, Barusoh, Simbatan.-Situated at the back of Sinkel; populous; divided into six parts; producing camphor, benzoin, and wax, all of which are conveyed to that port. "Tukah District. - Divisions.-Sipang, Rambay, Tukahduloh, Tukahunbun.- Situated between Deiri and the back of Bahruse, and divided into four parts, producing benzoin, grain, horses and cattle. "The following countries extend from Bharhuse to the back of Sorkom : : "Dohrulan.-Produces gold in small quantities, besides grain for home consumption. 66 Parahbotian, Jeitegodong, Pagarsenundi.-The chief employment of the inhabitants of these countries, is the transportation of the imports of Bahruse, and the exports of Tohbah between the two places; besides which, they cultivate rice. "Peidundun Pasaribu Dohlut.- Produce benzoin, which is brought down to Murolotah Tongah; and a small quantity of gold, which is collected after the harvest is in. "Tohbah Country. - Situated in the interior of the foregoing divisions, and extending from the back of Sinkel north, to the back of Batang Taroh south, contains the following districts: "Battumajaggah.-The inhabitants cultivate tobacco and rice, for home consumption, but do not export any thing: a bad tribe of people, the resort of refugees and outlaws. "Hutahtuah." Produces grain, and a small quantity of scented benzoin, which is carried to Sorkom. "Hutah Balu, Tangaran.-Independent of the cultivation of rice, the inhabitants are the carriers of salt between Sorkom and Tohbah. Paripiah, Sepapei.- Produce grain for home consump→ tion and exportation. "Jeikekahuli, Mahtiti, Menapong, Dohlok Sangun, Syna+ hutal, Sabushak, Butar.-These seven divisions, surrounding the foot of mount Palakir, (which will be spoken of hereafter) situated in the southern and eastern end of Tohbah, consist entirely of extensive plains, where cattle and horses run wild. The inhabitants conceive this mountain to be the principal residence of all the evil spirits scattered throughout the Tohbah country, and offer daily sacrifice to avert their anger. Rice is the chief produce." "Bakarah.- Here is an extensive, fair, and extremely fertile land, which frequently incite other districts at war to plunder its granaries. The country is so steep and hilly, that only one side of the houses has pillars, the other resting on the side of the hill: in consequence of the only level grounds between the hills being swamps, which are turned into rice plantations, the inhabitants are obliged to choose these situations for their houses. Baligah, Mohrang, Uluan, Asarhan. These four countries, the inhabitants of which manufacture clothes and earthenware, and cultivate rice and cotton, border on the large lake in Baligah. "Pulu Serumi. An island in the middle of the above lake, the inhabitants of which occupy themselves in catching fish with nets, drying it, and carrying it for sale to the fair at Bakarah, in barter for rice and salt. "The only mountains of consequence throughout the whole extent of the Tohbah country, appear to be Palakir and Mahtimbong. The former is both an object of veneration, from a conception the natives have that it is the chief residence of the evil spirits; and a source of utility, because they are supplied from it throughout Tohbah with chunam, to eat with the siri leaf; its surface being covered with cockle-shells. The only visible inhabitants, are tame |