The Sun.
London, England, 1826-01-12 00:00:00

SKETCHES OF INDIA.-SUMATRA.

Sumatra, known also by the names of PuloPu-
richu, Indalas, and Java Miuor,and which is also
supposed to be the Ophir of the Scriptures, is
about 1,000 miles In length, from Acheen to the
Straits of Sunda, and about 165 in its average
breadth, through the extent of which there runs a
high chain of mountains, some peaks of which are
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mines,h a The island
esn
the
eastern side of Sumatra, and along its western
coast extends a chain of islands, which seem to
' have originally belonged to it. It is separated
by the Straits of Malacca, from the peninsula of
that name, which extends 775 miles by 125 to the
isthmus of Kraw, which joins it to India, beyond
the Ganges. The western coast of Malacca is
also studded with islands, which seem all to have
been at some time or other attached to the con-
tinent. Pula Penang, or Prince of Wales's
Island, is one of great consequence, and the Ni-
cotters and Andamans, which form a chain almost
from Acheen to the head of the Bay of Bengal,
are curiosities, on 'account of the savages by
whom they are inhabited. The great Andaman
is the principal island of this cluster, and is about
140 miles in length by 20 in breadth, and, near
the centre of it, mountains rise to the height of
2,400 feet above the sea. Its inhabitants are sup•
posed to be oriental negroes, of the same origin as
these which inhabit the interior of Malacca. In
theAndamans,their number does not exceed 2,500,
and they are perfect savages,living on fish and rep-
tiles of every description. Their hair is short and
woolly; their noses are flat, their lips thick, their
eyes small and red ; their skin is a deep dirty
black, and their whole appearance horribly fright-
ful, tla limbs being very slender, and their
bellies protuberant. They go quite naked, smear
their bodies over with mud es a preservative from
the bites of insects, paint their hair with red
ochre, and their countenance presents a most dis-
gusting picture of misery and ferocity. Their
chief occupation is fishing, hunting, and search.
ing for birds' nests among the rocks ; for they
know nothing of husbandry, at least they will
not practice it. They are rarely above five feet
in height. Providence has given them, at a par-
ticular season of the year, an abundant supply
of fish, which they dry in the sun, and lay up in
their wretched huts for a time of necessity ; but
such is their want of care and foresight, that they
are often forced to eat the most obscene reptiles,
and it has been asserted that they are anthropo-
phagi. Lizurds, guanas, rats, snakes, and edible
birds' nests, are, however, known to be among
their daily food. Fish of every description in-
habit their waters, and on their shores are to be
found beautiful shells, gorgonias, madrepores,
murex, and cowries. One of the most curious of
their fish is the fly-shooter, or beaked chtetodon,
which knocks down its pray by cautiously
levelling a drop of water from its tubular
snout, like a ball from a musket. M. Rommel,
the Governor of the hospital at Bata via, w it-
nesse(' this singular operation. The British go.
veretnent established a settlement here about the
year 1791, for convicts from India, but it was
abandoned on account of its unhealthiness, and
, Pulo Penang was fixed on for the purpose. The
weapons of the Andamans are bows made of
bamboo, arrows headed with fish bone, spears
made of a heavy wood, well pointed, and shields
composed of hard bark. They salute each other
' by lifting one leg, and striking the thigh smartly
with one hand. Their canoes are made out of
the trunks of trees, and often without any other
aid than sharp flint and fire.

In the numerous islands which are called the
Nicobar's, the natives are a different race of ori-
ental negroes, whose colour is of a copper hue;
their eyes are small, their noses flat, and their
lips thick, but their hair is long and black. They
shave their eyebrows, blacken their teeth, and
flatten the backs of their heads, by compression
of the occiput while they are infants. They
have made considerable advances in cultivation
and civilization. Their exports and imports are
similar to those of the other islanders in the
Indian seas. They live in villages, composed
of from ten to twenty huts, under a patriarchal
government so simple that it resembles a family
compact. Their principal food is the melori
bread,
cloth co
round the waist, and passed
between the legs, as in India ; but here the end
:,ou n,uutis, and yams. A narrow piece
of
of it hangs down behind like a tail, hence the as.
sertion which the Swedish navigator Kiophig
made, and Lord Monboddo believed, that there

were men who had tails. Their notions of re•
ligion are confused, and their priests are sor-
cerers who make hideous grimaces, while they
exercise evil spirits, and cure diseases. Their
language is a mere jargon, almost unintelligible.
The Danes came hither in 1756, and the miss
sionaries of that nation continued their unsuccesse
ful exertions until 1787, when the settlement
was abandoned, after having proved the grave
of nearly all the Europeans that ever resided on
Nancowry.
Prince of 'Wales's Island is computed to core.
tain 160 square miles. Captain Francis Light,
belonging to a country ship, received this island
in 1785, as a marriage portion, with the King of
Queda's daughter. lie transferred it to the East
India Company, and was made governor, which
office he retained until his death, in 1794. The
name of Pulo Penang, which the Island bore, was
changed to that by which it is now known, and
the new settlement was called George Town.
There is a fine and secure harbour here for ships
at all seasons. The Island itself exhibits a
diversity of hill and dale ; some of the mountains
rise to the height of 2500 feet above the sea ; and
so great is the quantity of rain which, falls, that
with the exception of the months of January and.
February, rain may be expected every day in
the year. Cooled by a fine sea breeze, the ther-
mometer seldom ranges above 90, and is somes
times es low as 66. When the island came into
the hands of the Company, it was covered with
an immense forest, the trees of which were large
enough for the lower mast of a 74 gun ship. Only
a few fishermen occupied a small part of the coast?
but now the population exceeds 50,000, includ-
iug British, Americans, Dutch, Portuguese,Arabs,
Parsees, Chinese, Malays, Buggesses, Chulitts,
Birmans, Siamese, Javanese, Bengalese, and all
descriptions of Indians. There is a large fort
well supplied with cannon.
Fine roads have been made for several mile*
round the town, and many bridges constructed
by the convicts and company's artificers. Some
of the forests have been cleared away, and the
markets are well supplied with the necessarieS
and luxuries of life ; the various fruits and vegete
ables of Asia and Europe having been introduced
with success, as well as marty curious productions
which enrich the colonists : the soil itself being°
fine, rich, black mould, produced from the veget'
able putrifac:ion of ages.
It is anticipated by Wallace, that this island
will become a settlement of mighty consequence,
and the seat of universal commerce. It has a
great trade with China ; and all the staples of
Europe and India find a market here. It is ra•
presented as being, in fact, what Ormus was in-
former times, a great bazaar resorted to by all
nations. A Government and Council, subordis
nate to the presidency of Bengal, conduct the
affairs of this settlement, on which vast sums have
been expended.
The peninsula of Malacca is inhabited by &
variety of distinct races, the principal of which
are the Samangs, supposed to be the aborigines'
and the Malays. The former live in a savage
state in the wild mountains of the interior; while
the Malays people the sea coasts, follow habits
of enterprise and commerce, cultivate the arts,
and exhibit evident traces of civilization, and,
live under a feudal government. The original
country of this class of inhabitants, is said to be
the kingdom a Palembang, in the Island of SO'
ma tra, whence they have spread, by colonization
and conquest, over an extensive coasting toll'
tory. San,crit, Arabia, all the eastern tongues
indeed, and a mixture of the Portuguese, core;
pose the language of the Malays ; and most of
the best productions of India, Arabia, and Pe"
sia, are translated into it. Nor are they deice'
tire in original literature. History, biographlt
the theology of the East, and poetry, have 1111;
ductal their various writers; and the founding 0'
the city of Malacca, and the wars between the
Malays and Portuguese, under A I buquerquet ere
the subject of a Malay epic, called " Ilikarat
lacca." The Malays belonged to the
Brahmanic%
Institution, previous to their conversion to Soon
Mohammedanism by the Arabians. They
, ared :to, and
gaming,
at that time, a rajah, now called sultan ; the de
tans, or sr
in
The !!slays
their turn, have authority ove
are ad u
incdte erd h r
ntheir vassals.l
lteset_
Eno
cock lighting, which they carry to a jatal exceSSS
sacrificing not only the last morsel of food, and
the last remnant of covering, which their fouler
lies posses;, but oven life, with all its retinae 0'
hopes and enjoyments, to this baleful p1155i°,13,
When the laq-stake is lost, the wretched vial
intoxicates himself with bang, or hems)
unties his long black hair, draws his death/
creese, or knife, and calling amok, or kill met
(hence tine term, running a muck,) aims destroY,
tion at every one he meets, until he is himself
killed. w hile inflicting wounds on others.—`l"
character of this people combines activity, reit'
lesstlesst courage, treachery, ferocity, and re'
venge. Private assassination i 9 resorted to, te
twillse even slight insulvi : and if you punish II
Malay, he will seek every opportunity to murder
you in return.

Sumatra is an island possessing a fine atil'
phere, and abundant natural productions. Fr',
November to March is called the rainy season
the residue of the year is dry, and no teir
pests occur. Gold occupies the rivers, and Oil;
W
per, iron, t in, sulphu r, and c-al, possess the warila
of the earth. The cultivation of the soil is rit
to ouchperfection, that in rice, the staple 01 the
island, 140 fold has been obtained. 'the plaa/
shrubs, fruits, &c. to the oriental wort
flourish here in .perfection, in all' their variety
beauty and flavour. The poisonous upas Of 'lala
d
is to be found here, the deleterious effects
which have often excited the wonder and terror
of our childhood. It is scarcely necessary t° gag
.4
that these terrible accounts are entirely fatinia,u
.10
although the wood itself is a deadly poison' ree,
's
camphor tree of Sumatra has become very sCa`ie,
and It is said that 300 trees may
can he I.o° be cut du"
fore any of this valuable dru
Elephants, tigers, bears, &c. inhabit the forest*'
alligators are to be found ; and fish, birds, all
dg
insects, itt every variety.

Printed anti Publithed for the PnorntrTons, at the
Orrter, No- 112, Strand, by J. U. CAnsTAingi