Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 1509

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

1496

THE EAST COAST OF SUMATRA

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. The minor agricultural products are Liberian coffee, coconuts, 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. 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 1913 was exported from that place 18,971,729 K. G. fish, and 16,344,589 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 oil 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.

per annum.

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 four banking corporations-the Javabank, the Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij, the Ned. Ind.

Ind. Handelsbank and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China-have their branches. There are two very good

very good Hotels, a

Hotels, a Club, а 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 Pangkalan Brandan, Tandjong Balei, Bengkalis, Bagan Api Api and Siak. The population of this Residency amounted in 1905 to 2,667 Europeans, 99,236 Chinese, 89 Arabs, 15,487 other Orientals, and 450,940 natives; total 568,416.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 1509

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