SUMATRA, a large island in the Eastern Sea, and the most westerly of the Sunda Islands. It extends about six degrees on each side of the equator, and is about 1050 miles long, and 165 broad. A chain of mountains in double and treble ranges, extends through the island. Mount Ophir, under the equator, rises 13,842 feet, but snow has never been seen on its summit; or on that of any of the rest. Between the ridges of these mountains there are extensive plains of great elevation, where the inhabitants principally reside on spots cleared of the woods which clothe every part of the island. These plains abound with large lakes, from which issue rivers and streams, the largest of which is the Siak, the Indragiri, the Jambi, and the Palembang, flow to the eastern coast, while the small ones in great number discharge themselves into the western sea. The most important of these are the Kataun, the Indrapura, the Tabuyong, and the Sinkel.
The mean temperature of Sumatra is, we arc persuaded, not above 81°, the average measure of the equatorial heat. According to Mr. Marsden, the thermometer fluctuates between 82° and 85° in the most sultry heats. At Fort Marlborough, he never saw it higher than 86° in the shade; though at Natal, in north lat. 0° 34', it is not unfrequently at 87° and 88°. Now, at sunrise, it is usually as low as 70°; so that 81° will be found a full measure of the average mean temperature. Beyond the first range of hills the people light fires in the mornings. The southeast monsoon, or dry season, is between May and September inclusive, and the northwest monsoon begins about November; and the hard rains cease in March. There are a num ber of volcanic mountains; and earthquakes fre quently occur. Thunder and lightning are also frequent.
The soil of Sumatra is generally a reddish stiff clay, burned nearly to a state of brick with the sun, but covered with a stratum of black mould. The principal article of produce is rice of various kinds, which, in some cases, gives a return of 140 for 1, though in general it is only 30 for 1. The cocoa nut, the sago tree, the sugar cane, are also culti vated, but very little sugar is made. Maize, chilly pepper, turmeric, ginger, coriander and cumin seed, are reared in gardens. Hemp is cultivated in
order to obtain bang, which is smoked in pipes along with tobacco, which is also cultivated.
The principal fruits of Sumatra are the mango steen, the pine apple, oranges, the white and red shaddock, limes and lemons, the bread fruit, the jack fruit, the mango, the papaw, the pomegranate, the tamarind, nuts and almonds, wild grapes. Among the medicinal and useful trees may be enu merated the castor-oil plant, the caoutchouc tree, the camphor tree, the coffee tree, the indigo tree, and the upas tree, which is not injurious to those who come near it.
Sumatra is rich in mineral productions. There are mines of copper, iron, and tin. Sulphur and nitre are also plentiful. Yellow arsenic is also found. Coal, washed down by the floods, is pro cured in many parts. There are mineral and hot springs, and springs of petroleum. Yellow, red, and white ochres, are abundant.
Gold, which is found chiefly in the interior, oc curs imbedded in the rock, forming veins in quartz. The mines are generally at the foot of the moun tains, and are wrought by horizontal shafts from 50 to 150 feet long. The gold is also found in smooth masses like gravel, one of which seen by Marsden weighed 9 oz. 15 grains. There are no fewer than 1200 gold mines in the dominions of Menancabow. It is said that 11,000 ounces have been annually re ceived at Padang, 2000 at Nalaboo, BOO at Natal, and 600 at Mocomoco.
Among the articles exported from Stimatra may be enumerated the edible birds nest, the Biche dc Mer, bees wax, gum Lac, ivory, pepper, cassia, aloes, gum dammer, benzoin, camphor, dragons' blood, salted roes. The imports are, from Coro mandel, cotton goods, blue and white long cloth, chintz and coloured handkerchiefs; and salt; from Bengal, muslins, cotton goods, taffetas and opium; from Malabar, coarse cottons; from China, por celain, iron pans, tobacco, gold thread, &c.; from Celebes, the rough striped cotton which forms the dress of the natives, krises, hats, small pieces of brass ordnance, spices; and from Europe, silver, iron, steel, lead, cutlery, hardware, brass wire, and broad cloth, particularly scarlet.