STONE CHAIRS ( SAMOSIR ISLAND )

This site is where Batak tribal matters were discussed and law breakers tried. Several restored homes, stone chairs, and other megaliths survive. The "chairs, arranged under a hariam tree, are 300 years old and were used as a site for village councils, where disputes were settled and punishments decided. The chief would sit in the armchair, whilst other village elders sat in the surrounding chairs. The person on trial would sit on the small chair closest to the table — having been incarcerated for seven days in the small cage close to the stone chairs. A medicine man would consult his diary to decide on the best day for any punishment to be meted out." A stone figure, said to be the god of justice, occupies one of the chairs.

Guides today relish recounting gruesome events that took place in the adjoining courtyard of megaliths. "The criminal sentenced to death would be blindfolded, tied hand and foot and bodily carried to the large stone block. He would then be sliced with a small knife and chilli, garlic, and onion were reputedly rubbed into the wounds before a mallet—like a meat tenderizer—would be used to prepare the 'meat' for consumption (by pounding the man...). Having been suffciently trussed and pummelled, the unfortunate would be carried to the block and his head cut off. The (strength-giving) blood was drunk by the chief [who would also sample certain parts], before the meat was distributed to the villagers," who, the guides claim were required to partake of it. Finally, the bones "were collected up and thrown into the lake — which was unclean for a week and no activity occured during this time." The tradition ended in 1816.