a Dutch province in the island of Sumatra, comprehending the former kingdom of that name, along with the district of Jambi, extends along the east coast of the island, and is bounded on the N.W. by the Battah country, N.E. and E. by the Banka Strait, S. by the province of Lampong, and W. by that of Bengoolen. Near the sea is a low, flat, and marshy tract of ground; but towards the interior the country is hilly, and contains several volcanoes, one of which, near the frontier of Bengoolen, did much injury by an eruption in 1833. The country is watered by several considerable rivers, such as the Mesi, Komering, Lamatang, and others; and the soil is very fertile, producing pepper, bamboos, lacquer-wood, &c. European vegetables grow well; and live stock thrive better here than in Java. In the year 1811, the Dutch had merely a commercial factory at Palembang; when the sultan began hostilities against them; and in order to their entire destruction, under pretence of conveying them safely to Batavia, sunk during the night the ships in which they had embarked by means of holes previously made. But the hopes which had been entertained of gaining by this murderous deed the favour of the British, then in possession of Java, were disappointed, for an expedition sent by them dethroned the sultan, and placed his younger brother on the throne. The Dutch having, in 1816, regained their East Indian possessions, the sultan complained of his deposition; and having satisfied the government of Batavia of his innocence of the crime imputed to him, was re-instated in 1818. But soon he began fresh assaults on the Dutch; and suddenly one morning their factory was cannonaded by the guns of his fort. They made an unsuccessful expedition against Palembang; and the country remained in rebellion till 1821, when it was conquered by them. The sultan still retains his title, but the supreme power is exercised by a Dutch regent, who resides at Palembang, the capital. The internal administration, however, is in the hands of the native chiefs. This town stands on both sides of the Mesi, about 50 miles above its mouth. It is built chiefly of wood and bamboos, but the sultan's palace and the principal mosque are stone edifices. The river is here deep and navigable; and an active trade is carried on. Pop. about 25,000. The province of Palembang is but thinly peopled.