Sumatra

Flora.

The flora of Sumatra bears a strong resemblance to that of India and the Malay peninsula in the northern part of the island, and to that of Java in the south, but it has also many varieties distinct from either, and not only different varieties, but different genera from those of Java. The pine (Pines Mer kusii), not found elsewhere in the East Indies, is found as far south as the Equator, and the distribution of vegetation does not appear to depend so closely on altitude as in Java. A striking feature of the vegetation is the flower of the huge Rafflesia, known from 20 to 24 inches in diameter. There are immense areas of savannah country, covered with coarse grasses, chiefly alang-alang and glaga, which stifle other forms of vegetation and give shelter to hordes of wild animals. These tracts occur as low as within 700 ft. of sea level. Myrtles, eucalyptus, bamboo, rhododendrons and moss-loving orchids are well known, palms abound, and orders strongly represented are Dipterocarps, Begonias, Nepenthes, Oxalidaceae, Melastomaceae, Myristica ceae, Chryobalanaceae, Connaraceae, Cyrtandraceae, Amyrida ceae, Epacridaceae, Eriocaulaceae and Ternstromiaceae. There are zones of vegetation, differing with altitude, but the general tendency is for all forms to grow at a lower level than is the case in Java. The Sumatran forest begins at a height of from 30o to 400 feet, and it extends to all but the highest mountain peaks, this wealth of vegetation producing very beautiful moun tain scenery. The forests contain the finest timber-producing woods in the archipelago ; there is not only a great variety of trees, but they possess both stature and beauty. Deciduous trees such as the oak, chestnut, etc., grow on lower slopes than in Java, and apart from ebony, ironwood, camphor-wood, and sandal wood, there are also many species of resin and wild rubber producing trees. The forestry service of Java has been extended within recent years to Sumatra, which is divided into five districts for this purpose, and all wasteful exploitation of timber is checked, where this is possible.

Population.

The following table gives the area and popula tion of the several administrative divisions and of the island as a whole. , The population includes 20,086 Europeans and Eurasians, and 324,63o foreign Asiatics, including Chinese. One-third of the Europeans and four-fifths of the Chinese live in the East Coast Government. Sumatra has a very small urban population.

Arabs, Chinese and Indians of many races have long been set tlers round the coast, where, also, there were once Hindu-Javanese colonies, and the mixture of blood which has resulted, and Euro pean contact, has given a much higher civilization than that which prevails in the interior, where the Hindu-Javanese influence was little felt in many regions, and even Islamic culture failed to penetrate, leaving the people in their ancient state of animistic barbarism. Many of the indigenous tribes of the interior are still in a state of development comparatively low, but simple education is spreading under advancing Dutch influence, bar barous customs are disappearing rapidly, lack of clothing is giving place to garments of Malayan style, a higher standard of living is beginning to assert itself, also improved methods of agricul ture, and there are the beginnings of industry, whilst both Chris tianity and Islam are tending to replace the animism of savagery.

The whole of the indigenous population had, probably, a com mon Malayo-Polynesian origin, but to-day all the races may be classified as Malay, in a wide sense, the pre-Malay blood of the country having been absorbed thoroughly, whilst there is no race of true Negrito type. Of these Malayan divisions the Achinese (q.v.) inhabit the ancient kingdom of Achin in the north-western promontory and the whole of the north of the Gayo country.

Gayos.—The Gayos live in the northern central portion of the country, between the Achinese and the Battaks, with the Alas on their west, living mainly in the valley of the Simpang Kiri. The Gayos, numbering about 6o,000, are essentially a high land and insular race, and form an ethnographical unit, all speak ing one language. Akin to the Battaks, they are agricultural and pastoral, a friendly and honest race, living in well-built houses of wood, in small scattered villages, and are the equal in civilization of the Chams of Indo-China. Their chief crop is rice, maize, cotton and sugar-cane are grown, horses and cattle are reared, and forest products are collected, and there is an export trade to the coast in the latter, and in horses and cattle. Forest tracks, only, exist and transport is difficult, much being carried on the backs of the natives. Mohammedan by religion (with an ani mistic substratum), they are clever craftsmen in wood-carving and plaiting, and they make weapons. They are patriarchal.

Battak Groups.—The Battaks number 500,000, and inhabit the mountainous region about Lake Toba, the residency of Tapanuli, and a large part of the northern coast. They are divided into several groups, differing considerably in language and customs.

Of Malay-Polynesian origin, the Battaks are nearly one-third Mo hammedan, 8o,000 are Christian, and the remainder Animist.

Their old-time cannibalism, which was largely punitive and ritual istic, and slavery have disappeared. Their standard of culture is high; they possess a written language of their own, build com pact and picturesque houses, with horned roofs (on piles, many families inhabiting one house), and have rice barns, and a com munal hall, and the houses are beautifully decorated, the Bat taks being clever craftsmen in wood, ivory and copper, whilst they understand iron smelting. They are good agriculturists, rice cultivation, wet and dry, being their chief occupation, though maize, coffee, fruit and vegetables are grown, and horses, cattle, buffaloes and pigs are reared, and they weave and dye cotton gar ments, make their own jewellery, also pottery, and there are amongst them keen traders and shop-keepers, teachers and even doctors. Society is patriarchal, marriage exogamic, women are in a subordinate position, but are treated kindly, and polygamy is practised. There are village councils, a nobility, land belongs to a family, or village, but tenure differs.