Why South Sumatera province called "the Land of Batanghari Sembilan".

Musi River flows through Palembang City.

South Sumatra is a province in Indonesia located in the southern part of the island of Sumatra. the capital city of South Sumatra is the city of Palembang, and in 2021 the population of this province is 8,550,849 people. After independence, in the first meeting of the Regional National Committee (KND), Sumatra Island administratively was then divided into three provinces namely: North Sumatra, Central Sumatra and South Sumatra. 

Subsequently, South Sumatera then were divided into three provinces namely South Sumatera, Lampung, and Bengkulu. South Sumatera occupied the region of Palembang Residency under the Dutch Administration. Under the Autonomy Act 1999, Bangka Belitung Islands then became a province separated from South Sumatera.

South Sumatera is known as a rich province in Sumatera Island.Natural resources like coal, natural gas, and oil are found abundant in this province. It is not surprising that Palembang, the provincial capital of South Sumatra, offers a wealth of historical values given that it has a long history of being known as the Sriwijaya Kingdom's administrative hub. Besides, Palembang was also known as the capital of Palembang Darussalam Sultanate reigned between 1659 to 1821.

The province of South Sumatra (Sumsel) is also known as "the Land of Batanghari Sembilan". Batanghari means the base of rivers, and Sembilan means nine rivers. So, batanghari Sembilan encapsulates a meaning of a region where nine major rives flows and empty into the Musi River.

The nine rivers are: Kelingi River, Beliti River, Lakitan River, Rawas River, Rupit River, Batang Leko River, Ogan River, Komering River and Lematang River.The presence of these rivers made South Sumatra called "Negeri Batanghari Sembilan" and each river gave birth to one tribe.

Road of Spices

In the past, Batanghari Sembilan witnessed the glory of spices in South Sumatera. During the era of Palembang Darussalam Sultanate (1659-1821), Batanghari Sembilan functioned as the mode of transportation. All areas, practically, were not isolated but connected to each other by rivers, big or small.  

M.H.Court in his report said that Batanghari Sembilan sailed a variety of plantation products such as pepper, rices, cotton in Lematang river; rice, pepper, and ratan in Ogan river; and pepper and rice in Komering river and banyuasin.

J.I. van Sevenhoven in his book entitled "Lukisan Tentang Ibukota Palembang" reported about spices brought from inland areas of South Sumatera dan Bangka Island, both were under administration by the Palembang Darussalam Sultante at that time.

According to Sevenhoven, in 1821-1822 spices were sailed through river network to be traded in a number of markets in Palembang, one of which was Sekanak Market.  

The nine rivers continued to play an important role until the collapse of the Palembang Darussalam Sultanate around the 18th century. After the down of the Sultanate, the role of Batanghari Sembilan as the connector between Palembang and inland areas faded away brought by the Dutch administration in South Sumatera.

Batahari Sembilan

(Infography : www.sripoku.com, March 3rd, 2023)

The nine rivers are as follows:
 

 Kelingi River
The Kelingi River is one of the attractions of Lubuklinggau City, South Sumatra. Its natural beauty and richness of life make this river visited by many tourists, including those who want to do rafting.

The Kelingi River is located in Lubuklinggau City, South Sumatra. Has a length of 70 kilometers and a width of about 50-70 meters with a height of about 40 meters above sea level. This river flows down to Musi Rawas Regency and originates from Bukit Barisan, in Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu. It empties into the Beliti River which then flows into the Musi River.

Kelingi River is located on the edge of Bukit Sulap which is part of the Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS), which is still rich in forest plants and animals typical of Sumatra. Green and beautiful. Plants found are duku, durian, rubber, rambutan, banana, guava, as well as other plants in the form of trees, shrubs and herbs.

Beliti River

This river is located in Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra. The river water is used by residents to meet their daily needs.Residents take water from the Rawas River for cooking, washing and toilet purposes. Because the houses of residents in Musi Rawas are on the banks of this river.

Lakitan River

The Lakitan River is also found in Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra. This river originates in the Sebelat area, Kerinci Sebelat National Park.Data from the South Sumatra Central Statistics Agency (BPS) state that the length of the Lakitan River is around 1.113 kilometers.Its tributaries are the Black River, Megang River, Malus River, Pelikai River, Sumuk River and Maka River.

The Lakitan River is a large river that empties into the Musi River, South Sumatra. The river which gave birth to the Lakitan Tribe and its headwaters in the Kerinci Seblat National Park.

Rawas River

The Rawas River is also in Musi Rawas Regency at the subdistrict of Rawas Ilir. There are 54 tributaries of Rawas River recorded by Mongabay Indonesia. Starting from the Betuah River, Buluh River, Ratau River, Betung River, Baru River, Tambang River, Beringin River, to the Keruh River. Rawas river empties into Musi River at Muara Rawas.

 

Ogan River

The Ogan River is the third longest river in South Sumatra, after the Musi and Komering Rivers.This river flows on the border or cuts through the districts of OKU Selatan, OKU, OKI, and Ogan Ilir.The Malay people (Ogan, Penesak and Pegagan) live along the Ogan River and its tributaries. The Ogan River serves as a vital transportation artery and communications network. Ogan River empties into Musi River at Muara Ogan, Kertapati, Palembang.

Muara Ogan, Kertapati, Palembang (Courtesy of Google).

Batanghari Leko River

Batanghari Leko river lies in the Subdistrict of Batanghari Leko, Musi Banyuasin Regency and empties into Musi River.

Komering River

Komering River in Martapura, OKUT.

The Komering River is a tributary of the Musi River, which is about 360 kilometers long and between 200-300 meters wide.The upstream part is in Ranau Lake, South Ogan Komering Ulu Regency (OKUS) and the downstream part empties into the Musi River at Sungai Gerong in Palembang City.

Sungai Gerong, Palembang (Courtesy of Google).

This river flows through 183 areas of Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency, has a length of 65 km, an average depth of 13.34 meters and an average width of 270 meters.

Lematang River

Lematang River flows through Lahat City.

 

The Lematang River is located in Lahat Regency and Pagaralam City, South Sumatra. This river is known as one of the Batanghari Sembilan or the nine major rivers that flow in South Sumatra.The Lematang River flows through five districts/cities including Pagar Alam City, Lahat Regency, Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency, Prabumulih City, and Muara Enim Regency.

 

 Source : https://jelajah.kompas.id/jalur-rempah/baca/batanghari-sembilan-saksi-kejayaan-rempah-sumatera/