The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. I.] DEHLI RIVBR AND BANKS. 27
A Dutch assistant resident lives at Meidan.
A railway is in course of construction from abreast the anchorage, to
Meidan, and to Deli Jua, 2 miles beyond, with a branch to Binji connect-
ing the Langkat district.
Dehli (Deli) district is made up of three states ; Dehli in the
centre under a sultan ; Langkat to the northward under a native chief or
Pangheran ; and Sirdang to the southward also under a sultan ; the whole
forming part of the residency of Siak, the seat of Government being at
Benkalis island, further down the coast, where the Dutch resident for the
east coast has his head-quarters.
There is a German consul at Dehli, and a branch of the Chartered Bank
of India, Australia, and China. Population about 12,000.
Trade.—Dehli district has rapidly increased in importance in the last
15 years on account of its extensive tobacco plantations. Several large
companies have been formed, mostly Dutch ; the principal English lirm
is the Langkat Plantation Company. The whole of the carrying trade is
in the hands of Messrs. Holt's line. In 1873, the value of tobacco exported
amounted to 208,000/.; and in 1884, to 2,000,000/. It is shipped from
Glambia on the Langkat river, Dehli, and from Sirdang river. There is
no coal here, the small river steamers using wood for fuel.
Climate.—The health of the country may be considered good, though
unseasonable weather often brings epidemics of fever and berri-berri,
especially among new comers. Isolated cases of cholera occur.
Tides.—It is high water, full and change, in Dehli river at 3h.
rise of tide 7 to 10 feet. The tidal streams run from one to two hours
later.
TJjOng Sabunja Bunja.—From Dehli river the coast extends in
an E.S.E. direction 17 miles to Ujong Sabunja Bunja, and may be
approached to the depth of 6 fathoms. Ujong Sabunja Bunja may be
known from the olfing by its grove of high trees, the third grove from
Dehli river.
DEHLI BANKS are about 23 miles in length north-west and
south-east, and from 2 to 4^ miles in breadth. The south-east extreme lies
with the following bearings :—Pulo Varela (Barhela) peak E. by N. ; a
high tree on the northern extreme of a long straggling grove to the south-
east of Ujong Sabunja Bunja S. by E. :| E. ; the grove on Sabunja Bunja
S.W. by W. I W. The north-west extreme of the banks has from 7 to 10
fathoms, with Beitin Charaa point W. by S. f S. about 12 miles.
Bunjar shoals, which, form th^ dangerous part of Dehli: banks, are
situated on the southern extreme of the banks, and consist of two marrow
ridges of sandj which are 3 to 4 miles long in a north-west and south-east