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Sumba (Tjendana)

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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SUMBA (TJENDANA, or Sandalwood), one of the Lesser Sunda Islands in the Dutch East Indies, lying south of Flores, from which it is separated by Sumba strait, about ro S., 120° E. It has an area of about 4600 sq. m., consists of a plateau with an extreme elevation of about 3300 ft., and appears to be composed mainly of sedimentary rocks. It has a large Malay population (estimated at 200,000). Some trade is carried on in cotton, ponies, edible birds' nests, tortoiseshell, &c., mainly by Bugis and Arabs, the chief centre for which is Waingapu or Nangamessi on the north-east coast. Sumba is included in the Dutch residency of Timor, together with the lesser island of Savu, to the east. From this last island the sea is enclosed by Timor, Sumba and the islands between them, and Flores and the chain of islands east of it is called the Savu Sea.

"Kota" means settlement or township, and a great many districts have been named from the number of kotas they contain; e.g. the VII. Kotas, the VIII. Kotas, &c.