Stories from Deli

John Anderson’s Mission to Sumatra in 1823

He noted the areas of Delli, Bulu China, Langkat, Batubara, and Sirdang and met with leaders Kejuman Muda, rajah of Langkat; Sultan Panglima of Delli; Sri Sultan Ahmut of Bulu China ; Sultan Besar of Sirdang ; Nunku Bindahara and Pangulus of Batu Bara ; Jang de per tuan, or rajah of Assahan

History of Delli . – Delli must have been a place of some importance in former times, as it is
mentioned by Marsden as having thrown off its allegiance to Acheen, as far back as in the year
1669 ; and in other places as having been invaded by the king of that country at different periods.
The early history of this state, however, like that of most of the others on the coast, is involved in
almost impenetrable obscurity; no correct records of past events being kept by any of the people of
the place ; and where an attempt has been made by any of them to trace its rise and progress, there
is so much of fiction and superstitious tradition mixed up in the narrative, that it is difficult to
separate them , or to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion . ‘ The Malays are grossly superstitious ;
and many of them place implicit reliance in traditions so absurd and superstitious, that they will
not bear repetition.

Villages. – The first village in the Delli river, after passing Pompong, or the place of anchorage
outside the fresh water stream , is called Labuhan ; a miserable assemblage of small huts, occupied by the people belonging to prows, and employed in building boats.
Kampong Alei, or Ilir, is the next, a pretty large straggling village, on both sides of the river. Here the Sultan Panglima resides.
Kampong Tangah, the next, is a small village on both sides of the river.
Kampong Besar is a large and populous village, and the houses are well built and convenient. The
houses are not situated close to each other, but scattered about in the space of one and a half or
two miles, amongst clumps of cocoa -nut and other fruit- trees.
Kampong Kota Dalam , Rantan Bilimbing, Mabar Bajuntei, Tanjong Putus, Kota Bangun, Pulo Barian, and Tandal Kataran, are all very insignificant places ; some of them having only three or
four houses together, but scattered about along both banks of the river.
Lalang Kota Jawa, the remains of an old Javanese fortification , where the sultan had a large
encampment lately , in fighting with the Rajah Pulo Barian .
Pulo Barian , a small village occupied by the chief, who has lately been at war with the sultan of
Delli.
Meidan, a village containing 200 inhabitants, three hours’ journey from Kota Jawa.
Bubara contains also about 200 people. At this place the river Kesaran falls into the Delli
stream on the left . Then come the following small villages, viz . Labuhan Sanglela , Kampong
Bara, Ara Bongko, Ujong Gorab, Jabbar, Bulu Aour, and Delli Tuah, which are close under the
mountains Sebaya and Sukanalu . The population of Battas in this district is about 5000 .
Up the small river to the right, is Kampong Pulo Bruring
Sungei Siput is another small river, containing a population of about 100 Malays.
Sungei Sinkar, another small stream , with a similar number of inhabitants. Up both these rivers tin -ore is found.
To the right, there are two other kampongs, called Penumaran and Pulo Lada, at the foot of
the hills. The Batta villages are very numerous below and upon the hills

Soil. — Near the sea the land is low and swampy, and the soil is nothing but mud. The soil be
tween Kampong Alei and Kampong Besar, is a surface of rich black mould upon clay. Higher
up, however, the banks continue to rise, and the ground becomes well elevated, when the first stra
tum is a fine dark mould , from six to eight feet in depth ; next, a stratum of clay three or four feet,
and the substratum of sand and gravel.
Agriculture .I do not know so productive a country as Delli, considering the number of its inhabitants ; nor is there perhaps one on the face of the globe possessing so many natural advantages. The productions are numerous and valuable ; and the bare mention of their names alone, would occupy a large space. I propose, however, entering into some little detail upon this subject, which may prevent the necessity of repetition in treating of other countries.

Tobacco. — Tobacco is cultivated by both the Malays and Battas. They sow the seeds in small
beds, and transplant it in twenty days, in rows distant about two cubits. In four months it ripens. After two months the tops are cut, which gives strength and increased size to the leaves.
When the plant has seven leaves, they begin to gather them : the sign is the leaf drooping, and
assuming a brownish hue. The natives pluck one or two leaves at a time, according as they may
have approached to maturity ; expose them to the sun four days, and then pack them up in small
baskets, in which packages the tobacco is exported. If the seeds are required to be preserved, of course the tops of the plants are left untouched

Antiquities.– At Delli Tuah, or Old Delli, there are the remains of an old fort, with large square stones, the walls thirty feet in height, and two hundred fathoms in circumference. Rajah putri Iju , the celebrated princess, is stated to have built it. It is now, however, in a very imperfect state ; and possibly my information as to the size may be incorrect. At Kota Jawa there are the remains of a Javenese fortification, which I had an opportunity of examining. The intrenchment of earth is about a mile, or a mile and a quarter in circumference. Here there was formerly a colony of 5000 Javanese. At Meidan, higher up, there is a well attached to a mesjid or mosque, formerly built of large square hewn granite stones, two feet in length, by one foot wide. At Kota China is a stone of a very large size, with an inscription upon it, in characters not understood by any of the natives.

Population .– From the reports I received, I should be disposed to estimate the Malayan population at 7000 actually in the state of Delli. The Battas are very numerous in the interior, as far as
the mountains, and it is impossible to guess their number. The population of Delli consists of Achenese, Javanese, descendants of Menangkabau people, Buggese, & c. Battas, and very few
Chinese.

On Meidan

A chief, named Tuanko Pulo Barian, had established himself several years ago, up the Delli river, residing at a place called Meidan ; but gaining a little influence, and collecting a few desperate adventurers, he proceeded to exact a duty upon the pepper passing down the river, to which he had no right, and which was forcibly opposed by the sultan . The sultan seized a boat loaded with pepper, belonging to the Rajah Pulo Barian, which was sold to satisfy his numerous creditors, whom he refused to pay till compelled by the sultan. He vowed revenge ; and immediately collecting all his followers, he felled a number of large trees along the banks of the river, which completely blocked up the passage, and seized and plundered any boats attempting to come down to trade at Delli. The sultan was therefore compel led to take the field. Another source of dispute ( and which made the sultan very inveterate) was the seizure of a buffalo, which the sultan was about to make a sacrifice of, after the late epidemic which had committed such ravages in the country. The buffaloe strayed during the night prior to the intended consecration, was seized and killed by the Rajah Pulo Barian, in spite of the sultan’s remonstrances, and a full knowledge of the holy purpose for which it was designed. In felling one of the large trees into the river, the Rajah Pulo Barian, who took an active part himself, slipped, and broke his thigh, which was considered a just retribution for his sacrilegious conduct. The Rajah Pulo Barian came originally from a place called Danai, a little way down the coast. His proper name is Radin Inu. He has three brothers, the eldest of whom , Manja Kaya, is now called Rajah Graha, or the head warrior. Wan Achan, another, was married at Queda about a year ago, and is, I believe, a piratical adventurer ; and the other brother, Wan Bagus, resides at Danai.

On East Coast of Sumatra

Soil. — The soil, which, as I have observed before, is undoubtedly of alluvial formation, is peculiarly rich, and every vegetable substance thrives most luxuriantly. At Delli, Langkat, and Bulu China,
it is exceedingly rich, being a black mould, in some places eight and ten feet deep, over a stratum of
stiff white clay, and a substrátum of sand and gravel. Towards Assahan it is not so good. As you advance towards the mountains, it is composed of red earth and sand, intermixed with fragments of granite and freestone.