Key locations on Sumatra's West Coast (SWC) in the 17th century

The objective of this page is to give geographical markers for some major towns and villages that shaped the history of Sumatra's West Coast in the 17th century - in particular in the context of internal relationships and positions of the VOC (Dutch East India Company).
As we're essentially seeking the historical locations and that some may have disappeared (or slightly changed location to give way to a modern town with a similar or different name), some of these locations do take time to identify. For some, contemporary chronicles are the only guide. Historically, the West Coast had little or few villages, and many of those only sprang up in the 16th century as places for trading between foreign ships and the product of mining and agriculture higher up in Sumatra. This explains why some of these historical places disappeared or were absorbed into larger villages or towns (making identification difficult). (The links connect through to a satellite view on Google Maps.)

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(Work in progress)

On Sumatra...

Major political centers

• Aceh
• Bajang
• Bengkulu
• Cotatengah
• Jambi
• Palembang

On Sumatra's West Coast...

• Padang (in today's Muara Padang quarter)
• Sillida
  • Also called Salida, Salido... Is probably synonymous to what is also known as North Painan. The port and lodge of Sillida are not to be confused with the Sillida goldmine (where the VOC also had a base at a time; the mine is higher up the river (to be iderntified)
• Indrapoura (modern Inderapura)
• Tico (modern Tiku) (region also called Duabelas Kota, and comprises 12 villages in the 1660s).
• Poulo Chinco (modern Cingkuk/Cingkuak Island)
• Pagaruyung
  • Here is the location of the (reconstructed) palace of the Minangcabau kings (14th century royal graves are visible a few miles to the west, at Bata Basurek in the village of Kubur Rajo)
• Priaman (modern Pariaman or Piaman)
• Painan
• Songibongin
• The Songy Pagou (Sungai Pagu) river
  • For a treatise on the area that defined the Sony Pagou peoples, please see this Indonesian treatise...
• Region betwen Sillida and Indrapura (under the Minangkabau kings)
  • Batancapas
  • Telho
  • Schierante
  • Priamanpare
  • Cambang
  • Lakhitan
  • Plangley
  • Songeytouna
  • Pangasan
  • Ajerhadgy