The forests abound with elephants, deer, tigers, and monkeys. The Batang Merangin, Batang Bungo and Batang Masumai Rivers provide a means for inter-village relationships. The Batin culture and language have greatly influenced that of the Penghulu, who also live in the same regencies. The majority of the Batin make a living from farming or fishing. The greatest sources of income are derived from cinnamon, cloves, coconut, chocolate, and rubber.
Many farmers also have gardens located some distance away and accessible only by foot.
There they plant peppers, tomatoes, sugarcane, and fruit trees. Some of the Batin also dig for gold along the Batangasai River and are skilled in making gold trinkets. Others work in day labor, trade, home industries, public services, or government. In Batin society, the wife's relatives play a more dominant role than do the husband's relatives. This is evident not only in the area of family inheritance but also in the realm of rights and responsibilities.