Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 1480

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 Westcoast and the Residency of Tapanoeli in the West. It includes a great number of semi-independent States, each of which 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, five Assistant-Residents fifteen Controleurs and three Assistant-Controleurs. Justice is dispensed by the Landraad of Medan and Bindjei, 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 industry of the country is Agriculture and Mining, 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. 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 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 and 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 disposal of the native rulers and his chiefs. The principal State on the East-Coast of Sumatra, both from the rank of its ruler and historically, is Siak. The best known of the States however 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, coco-nuts pepper and rubber. Jungle produce, formerly exported considerably, is getting scarcer, by reason of the jungle being felled for the purpose of planting tobacco and rubber. The production of paddy though considerable, falls short of the demand by many thousand bags, which are mostly imported from, the Straits Settlements. Kerosine 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 consequence, Medan (Deli), the residence of the highest civil and military officials, is a pleasant little town, laid out in a modern style, the streets fitted up with electric light. A splendid architectural Government House has been built for the Resident in the new quarter of Polonia. Inthe town three banking corporations-the Javabank, the Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij 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, 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 also communication via Tandjoeng Poera with Pangkalan Brandan. Other important 'ports are those of Pan gkalan Brandan, Tandjong Balei, Bengkalis, Bagan Api Api and Siak.

Digitized by

Google

Page 1480Page 1481