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Battakland

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 26, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 48.

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Battakland

By E. H. Gates

Three years ago a young Battak, named Immanuel, heard the truths of the advent message from Elder R. W. Munson, in Padang, Sumatra. He returned to his country in the northern part of the island. Last year he wrote that he had studied these truths and become obedient to them, and that twenty-three others had joined him in the new-found light. He wrote:—
“I greatly desire, and often pray to the Almighty, that this message may become established among our Battak race. I long for the Battaks also to know the truth. The most high God has opened a wide gateway in the wall that surrounds the Battak country and people, in order that they also may find rest in heaven by this way of truth, which is plain.
“My mind is fully made up and it is this: This message ought to go to my people. In order that this may be done, men from among them should be trained in the message, and then they in turn can preach this glorious truth to their own people in their own tongue.”
Now Immanuel and two other Battak youth are in our school at Singapore. According to the Dutch laws, we are not at present permitted to send missionaries to Battakland, so we shall, as soon as possible, have Immanuel translate the truth into the Battak language, and send it to his country.
Little being known about the Battak people and country, I will give a few facts concerning them. The district occupied by this people is just south of Acheen, the most northern district of Sumatra. The principal products of the country are gold, benzoin, camphor, and cassia. Until the introduction of Christianity, the people were noted for their savage practices. Cannibalism was practised as much to gratify revenge as to satisfy hunger. Tribal wars were the almost constant occupation of the men. Polygamy was quite common.
The stature of the natives, so far as I have seen, is somewhat less than that of the Malays and Polynesians, and their complexion is slightly fairer. The Battak language is said to be the most ancient in Sumatra, and is the root of the various dialects that overspread the island.
Since the preaching of the gospel by the Rhenish missionaries in this dark land, many thousands have become Christians, at least nominally.
E. H. GATES.
Singapore.