The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-04-20
.loeso5L % s5vs-
Hatellaaso,as.
TRAvELERs. sKErcHEn.
FIr.t sIrllt or snmatrn.

when their came 4 faint aroma of sweet
woody scents, waited on the breeze; as
we sped through the yielding Vapory
banks, the fragrant air came strong and
pleasurable, like distant strains of song
then the retreating clouds presented to /
our gaze a dark blue peak, piercing the
skyey blue above the wood, and blossom,
and gum scented breeze came stronger
and moree thrilling, rivalling in pleasure
sweet melody on the waters and the peak,
and the odor- laden winds, were the first
sight and first welcome breath of the land
of long dreams, the Island of'Sumatra.
felt deep. hearts thrill on entering
the threshold of the East Indian Arehi-
pelago-those islands of so much tabled
wealth and wonder, OF so much real value
and interest and 50 much less known than
any other portion of the peopled earth.
To my right was the olden Jadadiv, the
''land of barley of the Alexandrian geo
grapLers the sacred Isle of the Hindoos,
and the Java of English and Dutch domi-
nioR, an island Fivaling Cuba in size and
I fertility, and skiold its number of souls
once a land of great empires and oriental
pomp, sending forth its eHnbattied fleets
and hosts to the nations around thems then
warriag with European power and sllll,
and falling by the hands of the buccaneerT
ing men of Portugal, of England and of
Holland, and now yielding coffee harvest,
the chief support of tbe almost bankrupt
sovereignty of the llstand the meanest of
| its masters. l- -.---4 IS. ---E Zl-l
To my left was greater island still,
though less fruitful, and less peopled, and
not SO nch In historic lore and dynastie
fame !; but the chief seat Of a great race,
who without war. pr9selytlng ZEAL had
scattered their language, and CUSTOMS and
\ traditions among numberless nations
\ around; from Madagascar to Polynesia,
from Malacca to Papua, the teeming mil
/ lions of the many thousand isles within
the Indian Ocean, all bear some marks of
the intellectual sway Of the Malays of
Sumatra
1 Before me-was the greatest ofall, an is
land continent; full Of hidden wonders.
and unexplored rivers, and plains, and
i mountain ranges; where the human form
with hairy skin lodged IN the trees where
man sought the head of his, fellow man,
as the best of gifts to lay at the feet of his
| bride; and where an adventurous gentle
man had become the prince and cIvilizer
of barbaric race, and filled the world
with the fame of Brooke and Borneo. a5
And around these We're the countless
| smaller isles of the Indian seas and many
of them large, rick, and greatly peopled
states. There were the fragrant isles of
spices, so rich in soil, yet so poor in pro-
duct, making -Molncca another name for
sordid monopoly There was Gelebes, with
4 Its trading lBughis,- aud their maritime
1 laws then MagiHdinao, the LaAahs. land
1.-the great pirate isle; Papua, with its
4 ferociops tribes, and birds Of paradise
4 Banca, the great tin mine Bah; the little
/ Bali with itslheroic race, twice conqnerors
i of the DUTCH SnmbaWa, the sandal wood
iisland Tmor, the last remnant of Portu-
gese dominion in the Indian seas and still
Il thousands more of fair island spots, which
IN gorgeous animal and vegetable life
had Wooed many fancy from the hard
path of a toiling life IN cold land, and
d might well produce deep hearts thrill
q with, their full charm of Yerdure and frag-
rance, bursting upon weary and storm
tossed senses. -...---... .f9e-s1 .-..zL
( It was my plan to steer direct for Singa.
pore. the great central point, and chic
trading port for all nations IN the Indian
seas there hoped to hear some tiding O.
my uncle ; and there I designed to refi
! for a short cruise to the northern part o
Sumatra, the northeastern portion %
Borneo, and to other points in the Afchi
pelago, where the native races of these is
; lands are independent, and where I though
there was no risk of coming IN 'contae
with European jealousy and power.
Gains and currents kept us lingering
for many days in the Java Sea, and creep
ing slowly through the Straits of Banca
While the schooner was at anchor, wait
> ing for a wind to stem the adverse cur
rent that prevailed, l cruised in. my boa
among the fairy dots of land, upon tn
Lampong coast; reused up some of tn
strange marine monsters that sport in tn
: green Shiny ooze along those shores, whic
seems to be a deposit Of decomposed ami
: Ilmaleula-toek a good lock at LueeparaT
2 Twisted the Nanka group, great and little
: (which my sailing MASTER explored in ques
: of water, finding none; and then when o.
Parmesaug Hill, I went with my boat 1
the opposite coast, pulled up rapid creel
explored the Jungle, and 1T was there, o
d a New Years Day, first trod the soil. (
o Sumatra. 5sg is5s5E - ~ -
= We had reached, on a pleasant aftel
: noon, the north western ends of the Strait
:. of Banca-the Sumatra and Banca sh0f
It iust to be seen from either bow; one ha
hour more, and the Ezilt would have bee
d out of sight Of Manopin Hill, and BeatIn
}. up against the northwest monsoon IN th
Il China Sea ;; but black-arched battlemeI
Va OAO0O AOSCr ~ way 0poY4tIl
i the dark disc, and on if came with Erop
vt speed and wrath, rolling with foam oFt
= 1.-THE. waters. The E77irt was all snug
IT storm trim, Ias she -carrened to a .furiOJ
'el and binding squaII; and drove on heeC
IF less at the helm. among dangerous shosl
d and upon an9unknown coast, with no eth,
St guide in the thick darkness that surrouI
II. ded Us. but the lead. line The water ral
e, idly ishoaled, and when the lead foun
n bottomlSt three fathoms, though NOS know
Of ing whether on 8 bank or the coast, v
d let 90 our anchors, and rode out of Il
j. storm in safety - ls-gsl - 80
le Z When daylight came, We beheld q
Of Banca shore5 and the fort of Mimic. abol
ID two miles distant Whilst was scanniI
with my glass the small craft and natiN
q boats at anchor, and entering the roat
= stead of Minto, observed small Duts
- cutter standing IN she had been hoyeriI
, near the schooner in the straits the di
h before /; she now ran close alongside Il
y FZirS and ladies we're to be seen on boar
!. whose deep brunette skins and tlHe youtl
i ful fornls5 shaped IN novel and tastef
costume could readily be distinguishe
lt z WgFHl a farmer iIoees q horse or 81