Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 1249

THE EAST-COAST OF SUMATRA

This part of the East-Const of the Island of Sumatra is situated between t 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 t South, and the independent Gajoo, Alas, Batak and Malay States of the centre & Sumatra in the West. It includes a great number of semi-independent States, each +4 which is ruled by a native Prince or Chief who, according to his rank and dependency. is styled, Sultan, Yang di Pertuan, Kedjuruan, Rajah, Datu, etc. The country's administered by a Resident, two Assistant-Residents, fourteen Controleurs and the Assistant-Controleurs. Justice is dispensed by the Landraad of Medan and Bindjes Tandjung Balei and Bengkalis, the Residency court at Medan, the Magistrates and by native courts or Karapattan. Leading cases are tried at Batavia. The staple indus::; of the country is Agriculture and Mining, and this being dependent upon importe! labour (Chinese and Javanese), the labour question is carefully guarded by a spec 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. Land tenure: land is leased from the ruling prine or chief of the district for a certain amount of years, so much per bahu or per acre being paid down, and f 1. 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 far as relates in the infliction of the death penalty and the disposal of land or landed property. Land contracts with Europeans, while made between the ruling prince ani the concessionaire, are subject to the approval of the Resident. Mining contracts require the approval of the Governor-General of the Netherlands-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 disposa! of the native rulers and his chiefs. The principal state on the East-Coast of Sumatrs. both from the rank of its ruler and historically, is Siak. The best known of the state however is Deli, where tobacco planting was first introduced, and by which name the whole of the East-Coust is sometimes designated. Deli, Langkat, Serdang, Assala and other tobacco-growing districts, are celebrated throughout the world for their fir 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 cell. per annum. The minor agricultural products are Liberian coffee, cocoa-nuts and pepper. Jungle produce, formerly exported considerably, is getting scarcer, by reason of the jungle being felled for the purpose of planting tobacco. The production of padiy. though considerable, tails short of the demand by many thousand bags, which ap mostly imported fron, the Straits Settlements. Of all the different states Asahan only is in a position to export a large quantity of paddy to the Straits Settlements. Kersine oil is exported from Langkat to the Straits Settlements, British India, Hongkong. Siam and China. This article is of importance for that district, and is still more promising for the future. Almost all necessaries of life have to be imported, and a brisk trade between Java, the Straits Settlements and the East-Coast is the consequen? Medan (Deli), the residence of the highest civilandmilitary officials, isa pleasant little town, laid out in a modern style, the streets fitted up with electric light. A splendi architecturel Government House has been built for the Resident in the new quarter Polonia. Inthe town two banking corporations—the Nederlandsche Handel Maatschapp and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China-have their branches. There are two very good Hotels, two Clubs, a Race-club, numerous houses of business, Chinese apanese, Indian, Malay, Bombay and Kling shops, etc. The port of Belawan Deli, ot the Belawan River, is in communication” with Medan by railway, the lines of which extend a long distance up country and the North giving also communication wit Tandjoeng Poer. Other important ports are those of Pangkalan Brandan, Tandjon. Bulei, Bengkalis, Bagan Api Api and Siak.

The population of this Residency amounte1 in 1900 to 2,079 Europeans, 193,766 Chinese, 9,208 Arabs and other Orientals, and 306,035 natives; total 421,090.