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Mission to the East Coast of Sumatra, in M.dccc.xxiii, Under the Direction of the Government of Prince of Wales Island
Mission to the East Coast of Sumatra in Mdcccxxiii Under the Direction of the Government of Prince of Wales Island Author:John Anderson Subtitle: Including Historical and Descriptive Sketches of the Country, an Account of the Commerce, Population, and the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, and a Visit to the Batta Cannibal States in the Interior General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1826 Original Publisher: W. Blackwood Subjects: Sumatra (Indon... more »esia) Batak (Indonesian people) History / Asia / General Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST OF SUMATRA, BETWEEN DIAMOND POINT AND SIACK. Situation. -- That portion of the large and fertile island of Sumatra, or (as known to the natives), Pulo Percha, comprised within the range of my inquiries, and the subject of description in the following pages, is situated between Diamond Point or Jambu Ayer, in 5 16' 32" north latitude, 97 30' 49" east longitude, and Siack river, the mouth of which is, according to a late observation, in 1 30' north latitude, and 102 10' east longitude, comprehending an extensive track of coast, fertilized by innumerable rivers, and possessing a large population of various races of people, differing in languages and manners; the whole country abounding with the most valuable productions of the east, and inferior to none in the bountiful indulgences and gifts of nature. There is not a more marked variety and dissimilarity in the products of the several states in this extensive track, than there is in the physical and moral condition, habits, and customs of the numerous tribes which inhabit it. Many of the states have been settled for centuries, and' have risen to power and an advanced state of civilization : others, which had attained the summit of prosperity, and were enjoying the benefits of a mos...« less