Barus

Barus, on the western coast of Sumatra, was renowned for the camphor and aromatic forest products brought down from its hinterland. Ships crossed the Indian Ocean to seek these valuable goods, making the port a meeting place for traders from distant shores. At nearby Lobu Tua, a Tamil inscription dated 1088 records a merchant guild, evidence of the ties between northern Sumatra and South India.

Barus remained a gateway to the forests of the interior as trade and political authority changed around it. Merchants could visit the coast directly as well as exchange goods through larger ports on the Malacca Strait. Its reputation for camphor endured in accounts from across the Indian Ocean, reflecting the value placed on a product gathered in the lands behind the port.