THE EAST COAST OF SUMATRA
This part of the East-Coast of the Island of Sumatra is situated between the Government of Acheen and its Dependencies in the North, the Straits of Malacca in the East, Indragiri (a part of the Residency of Riouw and its Dependencies) in the South, and the Government of Sumatra's West Coast and the Residency of Tapanoeli in the West. It includes a great number of States, each of which under control of the Resident is ruled by a native Prince or Chief, who, according to his rank and dependency, is styled Sultan, Yang di Pertuan, Kedjuruan, Radjah, Datu, etc. The country is administered by a Resident, 6 Assistant-Residents, 18 Controleurs (incl. Civiele Gezag- hebbers), and three Assistant-Controleurs. Justice is dispensed by the Court of Justice at Medan, the Landraad of Medan and Bindjei, Tandjung Balei and Bengkalis, the residen- tiegerechten of Bindgei, Tandjong Balei and Bengkalis, the Magistrates, and by native courts or Karapattan. The staple industry of the country is agriculture, and this being dependent upon imported labour (Chinese and Javanese), the labour question is carefully guarded by a special coolie Ordinance. All coolies are indentured under advances. The employer must house his people properly, provide them with medical attendance and food "when sick, and monthly payments are compulsory. Five special officials (Inspectors of Labour) look after this.
Land is leased from the ruling prince or chief of the district for a certain number of years, so much per bahu or per acre being paid down, and a minimum f1. per bahu or per acre per annum being paid as annual quittance.
The supremacy of the Dutch Government is based upon political treaties with each of the Princes, in whose hands is left the jurisdiction over their own subjects except so far as relates to the infliction of the death penalty and banishment, and the disposal of land or landed property. Land contracts with Europeans, while made between the ruling prince and the concessionaire, are subject to the approval of the Resident. Mining contracts require the approval of the Governor-General of the Netherland-Indies. In all the States the Dutch Government has bought the right to collect the customs duties and the ordinary revenues. Land revenue, collected by Government officials, is at the disposal of the native rulers and his chiefs. The best known of the States, is Deli, where tobacco planting was first introduced, and by which name the whole of the East Coast is sometimes designated. Deli, Langkat, Serdang, Assahan, and other tobacco-growing districts, are celebrated throughout the world for their fine silky tobacco leaf, which is specially fitted for the outside wrappers of cigars, being at once light in weight and elastic and strong in texture. The leading tobacco company is the Deli Maatschappij, which for 26 years has paid a dividend averaging 75 per cent. per annum. The minor agricultural products are Liberian coffee, coconuts, pepper and rubber. Jungle produce, formerly exported considerably, is getting scareer, by reason of the jungle being felled for the purpose of planting tobacco and rubber. Very important also is the export of fish from Bagan Si Api Api-the second fish export harbour of the world-to Singapore and Java. In 1912 was exported from that place 19.294,098 K. G. fish, and 13,553, 199 K. G. shrimps, trasi, etc. Considerable also is the export of timber from the islands near Bengkalis to Singapore. About 3,000 coolies are employed in this trade, The production of paddy, though considerable, falls short of the demand by many thousand bags, which are mostly imported from the Straits Settlements. Kerosene il is exported from Langkat to the Straits Settlements, British India, Hongkong, Siam and China. Almost all necessaries of life have to be imported, and a brisk trade between Java, the Straits Settlements and the East Coast is the consequence.
Medan (Deli), the residence of the principal civil and military officials, is a pleasant little town, laid out in modern style, and the streets are lit with electric light. A splendid residence with architectural pretensions has been built for the Resident in the new quarter of Polonia. In the town three banking corporations -the Javabank, the Neder- landsche Handel Maatschappij and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China have their branches. There are two very good Hotels, a Club, a Race-club), numerous houses of business, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Malay, Bombay and Kling shops, etc. The port of Belawan, Deli, on the Belawan River, is in communication with Medan by railway, the lines of which extend a long distance up country and the North, giving