Batak, a remarkable race of the island of Sumatra. They inhabit that portion called Batta or Battas, bounded N. by Acheen and S. by the ancient Malay territory of Menan-kabow, while on the east and west they are hemmed in by Malay colonies, which confine them to the mountainous region and plateaus in which the rivers Ledang, Bila, Burumon, and Batang Gadis have their sources; area, 20,500 sq. m.; pop. about 350,000. They have a written character, entirely original, forming an alphabet of 22 substantive letters and 5 vowel marks. They write from left to right, for ordinary purposes, upon polished joints of bamboo. Their books are composed of the inner bark of a species of palm cut into long slips and folded in squares, leaving part of the wood at each extremity to serve for the outer covering. Their literary works are chiefly rude treatises on the medical properties of plants, chronicles, stories of necromantic feats, and works on divination, which latter they consult on all important occasions. They are cannibals, eating the flesh of criminals, prisoners of war, and such others as may for any cause bring upon themselves the anger of the people. The victim is attached to a stake, and pierced with kreeses and lances until death ensues, when he is violently mangled and eaten.

This degradation of the dead bodies of their enemies is their highest ideal of revenge or retributive justice, as is shown by the extreme respect they pay to the remains of those whom they esteem. Their habits are of the most disgusting character. Their single garment (sarang) is never washed, but is worn until it actually falls to pieces; their cooking and household utensils are simple, and are never cleansed. They seem, indeed, to have literally no idea of the meaning of cleanliness. The entrails of animals are considered by them the greatest delicacy; but they are also fond of almost every kind of meat, and even eat beetles and other insects. They live in houses of considerable size, each containing one room, in which, however, several families often reside together. The buildings have no windows, and only a few holes near the roof to permit the passage of smoke from the fires constantly burning on the floor. The houses are raised from the ground by posts; they are painted and carved, sometimes with no small skill, and are covered by thatched roofs. The entrance is a small opening closed by a kind of portcullis, and is reached by a ladder. Under the house, between the rows of posts, is the shelter for their cattle and poultry. The religion of the Bataks is simple.

They are pagans and idolaters, although for centuries surrounded by a Mohammedan population. Their deities have Sanskrit names: Batara-Guru, the supreme good spirit; Suraya-Guru, his vicegerent; and Naga-Padoha, the spirit of evil. In taking a solemn oath, they cut the throat of a chicken after the manner of the Chinese. They understand the smelting and forging of iron, the raising of rice by irrigation, the culture, weaving, and dyeing of cotton, and have domesticated the ox, horse, buffalo, and hog. One portion of their territory, Padang Luwas (wide plain), is a bleak, treeless steppe, over which a desiccating, scorching wind blows from the west for months together. On the other hand are the beautiful and fruitful valleys of Mandeling, protected N. and S. by the lofty peaks of Barapi and Mali, and bordering the banks of the Batang Gadis (virgin river), which runs between the central mountains of Sumatra. These high ranges are covered to their summits with stately woods, which afford abundance of good timber. The Bataks are divided into three independent states, and not fewer than 40 petty rajahships are enumerated.

The Dutch have obtained access to a portion of their country on the western side, which is comprised in what is called the Tapanooly residency, and the country of Menankabow is also included in their possessions. Ida Pfeifier is said to have of all European travellers penetrated the furthest into the territory of the Batak.