Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/793

* SUMACH. 691 SUMATRA. the wood of Rlius rhodanthema (or Rhodasphwra rhodfinlliciiia) is considered one of the most valu- able cabinet woods. It is dark yclhiw with a satiny lustre, and takes an excellent polish. The leaves and bark are used in tanning. The name tanner's sumach is given to Coriaria myrtifoUa, a European shrub of the natural order Cori- ariaceie. The leaves are astringent, and are used for tanning and for dyeing black. The popularly re]nited poisonous American species are botanically confused, lilnis Toxico- dendron, a low shrub, is belie('d to be common only at the South; Jilt us rudicans, the so-called poison oak or ivy, a low, trailing or climbing species, referred by some botanists to To.icoden- dron, is more widely distributed. Rhus vernix (or Rhus venenata), the so-ealled poison alder, sumach, dogwood, or swamp sumach, has long been rejuited to cause irritation of the skin in some people and to be inert in others, a reputa- tion also pertaining to the preceding species. A saturated alcoholic solution of lead acetate is considered a specific. SUMAROKOFF, sno'ma-r.Vkof, Alexander Petrovitcii (1718-77). A Kussian poet. He was born in Finland, was well educated, entered the military service, became Count Kumyantseff's adjutant, and later reached a high rank. When the first permanent theatre was estaljlished at Saint Petersburg in 1756, he was made director, and also wrote plays for production at the the- atre. Petty of character, qiuirrelsonie, and over- ambitious, he left the capital, incensed at the in- sufiicient recognition he had received, and began to stage his works at JIoscow. After a time he got into disputes with the management of the theatre there, and in despair took to drink, dying in obscurity. Althougli clumsy and ineffective, his tragedies played an important part in the history of Russian morals. His comedies and satires have a great deal of genuine humor and wit. His works were published at IMoscow (2d ed., 10 vols., 1787). SUMATRA, soo-UKi'tr.^. One of the Sunda Islands, the most western, also the largest, not reckoning Borneo, of the Dutch East India Isl- ands, separated from the Malay Peninsula by the Jlalacea Strait, and from .lava by the Sunda Strait (Map: East India Islands, 13 5). It ex- tends in a northwest and southeast direction. Its length is 1050 miles; its breadth ranges from 90 to 240 miles. Area, 101,012 square miles. The Bukit-Barisan mountain range, of primi- tive formation with a covering of erujjtive rocks, lines the island along the whole western shore, and in the south and in the north diverges toward the east coast. The whole northern part of the island is in fact mountainous. The descent to the generally rocky shores on the west is com- paratively short and results in numerous valleys and ports of safety. To the east, in all the cen- tral part, extend lower stretches of level and un- dulating country sloping eastward, where all the main rivers are found, (lowing eastward, often through marshy flats at the coast. The greatest elevations iu the island are in the north, the loftiest peak being 12,100 feet. Here in the vicinity of Lake Toba — the most important lake —are steppes averaging 4000 feet in elevation, and thinly wooded, but the contiguous lower plains are rich in forests and characterized by dry riee-fields. In the region next south are en- countered volcanoes and deep river valleys. Fur- ther south, in the large middle belt of the island, are also volcanoes on the west, rising to about 10,000 feet. Here are Lake Maninjn, covering nearly 50 square miles and occupying the sunken cone of a volcano, and Lake Singkara, of equal area. Out of the latter issues the Ombilin River, coursing over a high plain of Eocene for- mation, and rich in coal fields. This whole fer- tile region in the western part is thickly popu- lated and forms the Padang section, at present the most valual)le industrial and commercial part of Svunatra. The large, more or less allu- vial, and plentifully watered southern part of the island is little known. Smnatra lias eight active volcanoes. The western coast w'ith its rich soil, timber, and mines has been much more favorable to development than the eastern. The main rivers are tlie ]lusi, .Iambi, Indragiri, and Kam|)ar. They are of little im- portance for navigation. Around a large part of the coast extend rows and groups of islands of more or less significance and once a ])ortion of the mainland — Banka, Linga, Kupert, Simalu, Siberut, etc. As a whole, Sumatra geologically belongs to the neighboring continental regions ; sandstone, limestone, and slate formations abound. The equator passes nearly through the centre of the island; accordingly the even temperature is constantly high, the mean annual tempera- ture ranging from 77° to 81° F. The annual rainfall varies from approximately 90 to 185 inches. The lower sections of the i-sland are unhealthful, the higher are pleasant and habitable. Thunderstorms and waterspouts occur frequently, and earthquakes now and then. The flora is practically that of the Malay Penin- sula and Borneo, containing a few remarkable special features, such as gigantic forms of arum. A large part of the island is overgrown with trees and foliage. The mountains are rich in tall timber. Oak, camphor, and teak trees aboimd. Sumatra is imsurpassed for fauna, nearly all the large equatorial types being present. Buft'aloes are the leading live stock. The rhinoceros, ele- phant, tiger, tapir, panther, deer, and many species of the ape are also largely represented. The supply of minerals is large. The island yields coal abund.antly, and large tin deposits on Singkap Island on the east coast are being worked. Petroleum wells flow in the Palembang region, and there is an important output of pe- troleum in Langkat. Agriculture is the occupation of the natives. All the tropical crops are or can be growni. The native princes and the Government farm out land to cultivators. The natives skillfully manu- facture filigree articles in gold and silver, fabrics, and household articles. The northeast coast, around Dili, is a rich and extensive tobacco country, which produced in 1899 about 5.3,000,000 pounds of tobacco. The pepper trade is impor- tant. Coffee, bamboo, rubber, copra, and gums are also exported. Sumatra is called one of the outposts of the Dutch East Indies. Its government appears to be in a somewhat transitory state, but is patterned after that of Java. The Dutch control in the in- terior is as yet but nominal. The various por- tions are known as the West Coast, the East Coast, Benkulen, Lampongs, Palembang, and