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 Residency of Sumatra's West Coast and of Tapanoeli in the west. It includes a great number of States, each of which, under control of the Governor, 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 Governor, 6 Assistant-Residents, 14 Controllers (incl. Gezaghebbers) and 3 Assistant-Controllers. Justice is dispensed by the Court of Justice at Medan, the Landraad of Medan and Bindjei,Tandjung Balei, Tebing Tinggi and Bengkalis,the residen- tiegerechten of Bindjei, Tandjoeng 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. Six special officials (1 Inspector and 5 adj. 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 f. 1 per balu 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 ofland or landed property. Land contracts with Europeans, while made between the ruling prince and the concessionaire, are subject to the approval of the Governor. 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 and other tobacco-growing districts, are celebrated throughout the world for their fine silky tobacco leaf, which is specially suited 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 many years, has paid a dividend averaging 75 per cent. per annuin. Next to tobacco, with a planted area of 172,000 acres, the cultiva- tion of rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) has developed to such an extent in recent years that now there is a planted area of some 400,000 acres. The capital invested in rubber estates amounts to more than £12,000,000. The territory in which rubber grows stretches from Langkat in the north to Ásahan and Siak in the south. The cultiva- tion of tea has also developed in the last few years until it has now a planted area of more than 30,000 acres, nearly all in production.
Other important agricultural products are given below :-
Coffee and Rubber
Coceanuts
Oil Palms Gambier
Tea
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...
...
Hectares Planted end 1923.
165,410
9,676
15,395
...
1,651 11,822
Rubber Coffee
Copra
...
Gambier
...
...
...
...
Crop in 1923. 40,160 tons
1,825 3,500 2,732 7,900
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Tea Oil
...
...
•
""
4,000
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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. 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
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