Lunto

Ten of thousands of workers came from prisons in Muaro Padang, Cipinang, Glodok and Batavia and become the first Sawahlunto residents.

 

After Dutch engineer W.H. De Grave discovered coal in the mid-19th century, in the valley near  the banks of the Lunto River civilization began to be formed. Tens of thousands of workers came from prisons in Muaro Padang, Cipinang, Glodok and Batavia. They transported into the interior of Sumatra to dredge coal. Historians record them as kettingganger or chain people. Most of them are the people of Java who helped shape the culture of Sawahlunto today