Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait121878roya).pdf/156

 large and thickly peopled island. The prahu's of the natives are made of long hollowed-out tree stems, provided on both sides with outriggers to keep the equilibrium. With there very heavy and unwieldy prahus manned by 200 to 300 men naval battles are sometimes fought. On the shores of the lake, which are as it were covered with villages, there are splendid terraces laid out into rice fields lying one above another. The villages are mostly well fortified and impregnable to a Batak enemy, but in constructing them, cartouche, shot and shells have naturally not been thought of several are surrounded by walls 10 to 20 feet high which are often protected by ditches 20, 30, and even 40 feet deep. These ditches are flushed by the help of conduits, and, when the village is besieged, can again be filled with water. One village, so fortified, once held out against an enemy 10,000 strong. For greater security bastions are also built, surrounded by concealed pitfalls, ranju's, and such like. Notwithstanding the great scarcity of wood, the houses and lam's (assembly houses) are very strongly and elegantly built, the honour and riches of the natives consisting in them. We have already often mentioned that Toba is thickly peopled. Almost all the Batak-tribes hold that Toba is the cradle of their race. In the character of the people there is, however, something savage, something unbridled; yes, something of the animal. To those however, who can deal with them they are accessible, and suffer themselves to be led by them. Yet, in consequence of other circumstances, missionary work will be somewhat difficult there. In no case however will it be hopeless labour. Besides great riches and deep poverty, the most intense cunning, and credible narrow mindedness, we find there also the most disgusting deformities by the side of many slim muscular and well built forms. These contrasts are caused by the complete freedom of the one and the complete dependence and slavery of the other.

"Let us look upon a genuine Tobanese. There he stands before you with regular, large and well built figure, usually with significant and defiant looks. His clothing gives one at once a high opinion of his prosperity and princely descent. A durable garment, either black and white, or black and red, of the value of 4 to 6 Spanish dollars, is bound round the trips by a white girdle, and hangs down to his feet. Another garment as costly hangs over the shoulder. Both his ears are adorned with gold rings, and ou his head he wears a white or red turban. At feasts the latter is of silk, or be wears an ornamental string of pearls through his hair, which he allows to hang down in long plaits in war time; besides a copper pipe, worth 30 Spanish dollars. In Toba a tael of gold is worth 8 Spanish dollars.