The natives consist of Sumbawans proper, a people of Malayan stock; of Buginese and Macassar immigrants, and of wild tribes of the mountains of whom nothing is known.
The commercial activity of the Buginese causes their language to be fairly widely spoken-little, however, by Europeans.
With these three main races have crossed traders and colonists, Macassars, Buginese, Javanese and Europeans.
The coast-villages are inhabited by a mixed Malay population, Buginese, Macassars, Balinese and other races of the archipelago.
The population, mainly a mixed race of Macassars, Buginese, the natives of Luvu and Buton, is estimated at 57,000 on the main island and 24,000 on the dependent isles.