Idaho County free press., 1924-08-07


the final count Is made. For every
one lost the first mate Is personally
fined, about fifty gulden; but If he
brings a certain percentage safely to
their destination he receives liberal
bonus.
Arrived at a Sumatran port, the
coolies pass single file down the gang
way between two officers and a con-
tractors agent, who check them as
they go-men, women, boys and girls,
with folded mats under their arms and
their possessions lied up in long cloths
slung around their necks and resting
on their hips. Only those with babies
are kept apart and counted last, lest
one tiny head should be overlooked.
They are q picturesque lot In their
gay-colored clothes. Most Of the wom-
en- go bareheaded, their black hair
brushed back and knotted behind, with
strings of coral beads hanging around
their necks and big buttons of gold
and silver, jade, amber or ebony ex-
tending from their pierced ear-lobes.
Brilliant scarves half conceal their
fresh white corsages, and leather belts
with massive silver buckles encircle
sarongs of many hues.
Around the heads of nearly all the
men one finds twisted the universal
brown kerchiefs of Java, Haunting
starched corners; and, in addition to
thelr sarongs and a few short coats
and paiama tops, there is noticeable
partiality for white undershirts and
long pink drawers.
Fine Rubber and Tobacco Land.
The entire east coast of Sumatra is
low and fiat, an alluvial plain formed
nv silt washed down from the noun
tains by an extremely heavy rainfall.
In this way the whole of the broad
plain between mountains and sea-
which. behind its mangrove fringe,
forms the splendidly rich lands OF ruo-
| Der and tobacco estates, has gradually
been built up and is steadily being ex-
| tended.
The mangrove plays a considerable
part in this extension because OF its
remarkable powers of reproduction.
Growing partly in the shallow water
Of the littoral, these trees spread out
labyrinth of surface roots that ACT
as framework for the accumulatlng
mud. which In the course Of time rises
above the surface and forms land.
The shallow water and shifting mud
banks of the coast make the location
| frannpnflV ne
cessitate their removal or ABANDON
ment after they have once been estaD-
lished.
Although large steamers now docK
in the port of Deli, like most other nu-
matran ports it is but a broad, mud
colored stream winding sluggishly
through dense equatorial swamps' A
railroad enters this port, largely on
stills. and carries one some miles De-
fore he Is really on solid ground.
/ Medan, capital of the government OF
the east coast of Sumatra, is IA miles
inland from Deli. 1t is moueIn
town, created by the Dutch and iaiu
out in an attractive manner.
There is an airy appearance ana
cheerful white mans" atmosphere
about the official buildings around 's
SPACIOUS square and the COOL shaueu
streets of its European quarter.
The white bungalows are extremely
| attractive in their green and weli-kep'
grounds, shaded by tall royal palms.
rubber trees, bamboo. oanyans'
"fames OF the forest" travellers trees
and other tropical growth.
The huge buildings of the Den com, go :
pany, with European hospitai anu d
well-appointed asylum for native i,n-
migrants, are almost hidden IN tie
dense verdure of park hlled WIN
beautiful shade trees. Farther @ oul
are the native compounds and various
Asiatic quarters
Medan's prosperity and Importance
are due to its location in the eenter OF u
the rich tobacco lands; and owing 20
this. with the consequent demand Ioi
labor and to the scarcity Of native Soo ~,
matrese, its population of about ls'0OO
is very mixed one.