1924

THE EAST COAST OF SUMATEA
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, lladjah, Datu, etc. The country is
administered by a Governor, 6 Assistant-Residents, 14 Controllers (inch Gezaghebbers)
and 3 Assistant-Controllers. Justice is dispensed by the Court of Justice at Medan, the
Landraad of Medan andBindjei,TandjungBalei,TebingTinggi andBengkalis,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 bahu
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 of land
or landed property. Land contracts with Europeans, while made between the ruling
iprince 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 annum. 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 300,000 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 Asahan 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
snore than 12,284 acres, more than 6,000 acres of which are in production.
Other important agricultural products are given below :—
Hectares Planted in 1922.
Goffee and Rubber ... 160,033 Rubber
Cocoanuts 9,103 Coffee
Oil Palms 9,841 Copra
Gambier 1,448 Gambier
Tea ... 11,014 Tea
Oil ...
Crop in 1922.
82,674,480 lbs.
50,237 piculs
54,202 „
307.629 „
15,015,246 lbs.
3,135,000 K.G.
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