Nias

Nias, an important island belonging to Holland, lies to the west of Sumatra, and has an area of about 2100 sq. m. The surface is mountainous, the highest peak rising 1970 feet. In 1857, when the Dutch took complete possession of the island, the population was reckoned at 170,000. They grow rice, cocoa-nuts, bananas, tobacco, sugar-canes, &c., and annually about 110,000 lb. of pepper. The Niassers are of the Malay race, but fairer than the Malays usually are. They are gentle, sober, and peaceful, remarkably ingenious in handicraft. See Roy, Scot. Geog. Mag. for 1888 and 1891; and Modigliano, Un Viaggio a Nias (1890).