Sumatra

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of SUMATRA, and the Trade thereof.

SUMATRA, anciently Traprobana, and Salomons supposed Ophir, was esteemed the biggest Iland in the world, but moderne experience hath found the contrary, being onely 700 miles long, and 200 miles broad: The Aequator cutteth through it, so that the Sunnes vicinitie, makes it abound in severall precious commodities for traffique, as first it hath Pepper in abundance, whereof above twentie Shippes of burthen is hence yearly laden; also Ginger, Aloes, Cassia, raw silke, gold and silver, brasse, and some other drugges. This Iland is subject to many Princes, the principall whereof are the Kings of Pedor and Achin; it is here a custome that the natives doe eate their slaine enemies, and did earst account their sculles for a great treasure, which they exchanged for other necessaries, he being accounted the richest man that hath most store of them in his house, this custome is almost extinguished, for the trade of Merchants from other Countries thither, of late yeares having brought silver and gold in request amongst them, hath made them since know better.

In this Iland is found a hill of brimstone continually burning, and two very strange and admirable Fountaines, the one yeelding pure and excellent Balsamum, and the other most excellent Oyle.

The chiefe Cities of this Iland, is Daren, Pasen, and Androgede, the habitation of so many Kings, but the principall places and parts for trade knowne to the Europeans, are Dachem or Achim, Ticko, Iambe and Priaman, all maritime and good harbours; where the English are found to have residence and Factories; also Pedir, Campar and Manancabo, to the which the Portugalls generally doe trade; but the Inhabitants for the most part transporting the native commodities of this their Iland to Mallucca, which is not distant above twentie miles of, are not much troubled with the Portugalls Commerce; though in lieu of them the Dutch have of late got footing and built Fortresses amongst them, to their as great trouble, vexation, and slavery.

Within these few yeares these Ilanders were not knowne to have any coines currant in payment for Merchandise amongst them, but the sculls of their slaine enemies, as I said before, which they accounted as their greatest treasures, and with which their barters and exchanges for things necessary were made; but now of late the King of Achin in imitation of other adjoyning Princes, and the so neere neighbourhood of Mallacca, now in possession of the Portugalls, have coined moneys, which in these dayes are observed to be these:

A Masse, which is here accounted for 4 Cappans, which is 12^d starling.

A Taile is 16 masses or 3⅕ R. 8/8 or starling money 16 shil.

A Cattee is 8 tailes in ordinary account, and worth 25⅗ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spanish or 6li. 8 shil. starling, and sometimes in exchange from hence to other adjacent parts, they account 7¼ and 7½ Tailes to one Cattee.

In other parts of this Iland, as Iambe, Tico, and Priamon, they have no coines of their owne, but the most currant is the Spanish R〈◊〉, in which the Europeans keepe their accounts, and for distinction divide •…t to 〈◊〉 •…0 deniers or pence to a R. 8/8.

The common weight through all Sumatra is a Bahar, but yet Pound to vary in many places, and consisteth of Cattees, which in greatnesse also varieth, and from thence commeth the difference, •…ut in Achin, Praman, Ticcou and Iambe, where the English reside, •…he Bahar is found to be in each of these places 200 Cattees; every •…attee is 29 ounces English, so that by this computation the Ba•…ar must make 360 li. English sotile.

The measures here in use are (——)

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn. OF THE ORIENTAL ILANDS.

SVMATRA lieth on the North of the Greater Java, betwixt it and the Streight of Sincapura the most Southern Town of the Golden Chersonese. The Streight in that place so streight and narrow not above a musket shot in breadth, that some conccive this Island to have been formerly joined unto it by some little Isthmus, since worn away by the violence and working of the Sea: and that this Iland, and not the Land of Malaca was that Golden Chersonese which we find in Ptolomy. More probably by farre, than that we should run after to the Isle of Japan situate on the East of China, so farr from any part of India, where it is placed by the Author of the Atlas Minor.

The length hereof, extended from the North-west to the South-East, is said by some to be 900. by others but 700 miles, the breadth 200, and the whole compass one and twenty hundred. Strangely affirmed by some writers to be the biggest of all •he East; who yet assign a greater circuit unto Java, and as great to Borneo. Situate under the Aequator, which divideth it into two parts, very neer an equalite: that on the North-side reaching unto five degrees, that on the south-side but to seven degrees from the line it self. By which accompt there is little difference betwixt the length of a day and night; both much at one in all times of the year whatever.

The air hereof by consequence must be very hot, but withall unwholsome, not so much in regard of the extream heats, as by reason of the gross vapours drawn from the many Fens and Rivers which are found to be in it; and the thick woods which intercept the free course of a purging wind. The soil not capable of such grain as in other places, except Rice or Millet (for I know not otherwise how to render the Latine, Milium) but yielding Ginger, Pepper, Camphire, Agarick, and C•ssia, in great abundance. It affordeth also great plenty of Wax and Honey, store of Silks and Cottons; rich mines not onely of tin, iron, sulphur, and other Minerals; but of Gold such quantity, that some conceive this Island to be Salomons Ophir. And if Pedrunka Sirie one of the Kings of this Iland, in a letter written to King James did not brag too impudently, it may be probable enough. For by that letter it appeareth that all the furnitures of his house, and the trappings of his Elephants, and horses, withal his Armour, were of pure Gold, and that he had in his dominions a whole Mountain of Gold; King of which Golden Mountain he entituleth himself in his Regal Stile.

The Inhabitants are many of them good Artificers, cunning Merchants, or expert Mariners. All of them Gentiles till about two hundred and thirty years since, at what time by the diligence of some Arabian Merchants trading to this Island, Mahometanism began to spread upon the Coasts. But in the inland parts of the Countrey they are Gentiles still, and still retain amongst them their old barbarous customes. The most loving men unto their enemies that were ever known; for otherwise they would never eat them. Having eaten they use their skuls instead of money, which they exchange or barter for such necessaries as their wants require▪ and he is thought to be the wealthiest man amongst them, who hath most of this coin. Those of the other Religion though in most points and customes they agree with the rest of the Mahometans, have this one singular to themselves: which is, that once every year on a certain day they go solemnly unto their Mesquits to see if Mahomet be come; leading a spare Horse for him to ride upon: which (missing him) is mounted at their coming back, by the best man in the company. Of any great Progress that Christianity hath made here, I have no good evidence.

That here are many and great Rivers, hath been said before, but their names I find not. Here are also many Mountains, and those great and high; that of most note called Balalvanus, said to burn continually. Out of which, or not farre off do arise two Fountaines, of which the one is said to runne pure Oile, and the other the best Balsamum: which I bind no man to believe but such as have seen it.

Chief Towns hereof 1. Achen, the Seat Royall of that Kingdome, beautifyed with the Regal Palace, to which they pass thorow seven Gates one after another, with green Courts between the three outermost; those three continually guarded with women expert at their weapons, and using both swords and Guns; the only ordinary guard that he hath for his person. The materials of this Palace mean, but the furniture costly; the walls thereof being hanged commonly with Veivet and Damask, and some times with cloth of Gold. 2. Pedir. 3. Pacem, 4. Cambar, 5. Menantab•, 6. Aura, and 7. Andragde, the seats of so many of their Kings. 8. Passaman, a Town of great trade, but situate in a moorish and unhealthy place; found so experimentally by too many of the English, who have there their Factory. 9. Priamon, and 10. Teco•, of a more healthy aire, but not so commodious in their Havens as is that of Passaman: these 3 Towns standing in that part of the Countrey where the Pepper groweth.

All that we know touching the storie of this Countrey, is that the Portugals, when they first came hither, found in it nine and twenty kings; reduced since to a smaller number. For Abraham, sometimes a Slave, afterwards King of Achen, having turned Mahometan, by the help of the Turks and Arabians subdued the Realms of Pedir and Pacem. Aladine who succeeded him, being once a Fisherman and grown famous for his exploits at Sea, was by this King preferred to the mariage of one of his Kinswomen, made his Lord Admirall, and by him trusted with the protection of his sonne and heir: of whom instead of a Protector he became the murtherer, and usurped the State unto himself. When King, he added to his Crown the Kingdomes of Aru, or Aura, and Manucabo, and almost all the rest in the Northpart of the Iland. In this kings time, the English were first settled in their Factory there. Grown old (an hundred years at least) he was imprisoned by his eldest Sonne, impatient of a longer stay, alleging that his age had made him unfit for government, Anno 1604. The name of the New King Sultan Pedrucka Sirie, who in his letter to King James spoken of before, stiles himself the Sole King of Sumatra: either with greater brag than truth, or else because the Kingdomes of Tecoo, Priaman, and Baronse, being conquered by him, all the rest were become his Tributaries. Associated with the forces of the King of Jor, or Johor, who had maried his Sister, he besieged Malaca, and distressed it: But being beaten from it by the Portugals, he turned the tide of his displeasure upon his Consederate, and subdued that Kingdome; who with the King of Siak (some other petit Prince neer Jor) and two of their brethren, were in the year 1613. brought Prisoners to Achem.

The Government of this King is absolute, and meerly arbitrary, executing what he hath a mind to without form of Law. So cautelous, that without his Placard no stranger can have •ngress into his dominions, or free Egress out of them. Nor is admittance to his presence granted unto any whom he first sends not for by an Officer with a Gilded Staff. He is conceived to be strong both by Sea, and Land, his Countrey populous, his Elephants many and well trained, able to put to Sea 120, or if need be 200 Ga•lies and Frig•ts fit for any service, most of which carry Demi-Cannon, Culverin, Sakar, Minion, and other the like Ordnance of Brass. So great a Master of his Subjects, that in 21 daies he had a goodly Channel drawn about his Palace, from a River which was eight miles off. Of his Revenues I am able to make no conjecture, but think him to be full of Gold, by that great quantity of Golden furnitures which he hath about him.

And now I am fallen on this Kings Gold, I cannot but take notice of some Ilands on the West of Sum•tra, called Aureae Insulae, of the Golden Ila•ds; the chief of which named Andramania, is possesed by Cannibals, or man-eaters. Opposite unto which on the East side of this Iland, are those called Linga, Banca, and Bintam; which last is said to be very woody, well watered, and to afford a commodious Station for shipping. The houses built of stone, but thatched except that of the King (for even these sorry Ilands love to have a King of their own) whose house more eminently seated, is more handsomly covered.