XXVI. Report of a Journey into the Batak Country, in the interior of Sumatra, in the year 1824

Extract

In accordance with a desire of the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Stamford Raffles, and in pursuance of the objects of the mission to the Bataks, we left the village of Sibolga on Friday the 30th of April 1824, for the purpose of visiting the populous districts inland of the bay of Tappanooly. The general opinion of the ferocity of the Batak character, together with the representations of various individuals residing in the bay, had led us to view the enterprize as somewhat hazardous and difficult. The previously limited intercourse of Europeans with the interior, had reduced them to the necessity of depending upon the natives of the coast and the adjacent mountains for their information relative to those parts: these, from a habit of hereditary depredation on their more inland neighbours, having imbibed towards them sentiments and feelings to their prejudice, had generally presented the most unfavourable view of their character and disposition.