t^S Volcanoes. 



wide, 120 ft. deep, and 1627 ft. long. From this valley It 

 took its way into the plain of Forte, when, like the western 

 stream, it divided itself into three branches, which severally 

 took their courses towards Bosco, Mauro, and the plains of 

 Mulara. The dimensions of this current were not above half 

 that on the western side. 



On the morning of the 16th the lava ceased to flow, and 

 the crater was covered by a dense cloud of comminuted 

 pumice, which enveloped it the four following days, during 

 which time the summit of the mountain fell into the internal 

 cavity. The surrounding country, to the distance of ten or 

 twelve miles, was wrapped in palpable darkness, and thunder 

 storms were awfully frequent. The average depth of the 

 sand that fell during this period, for a distance of three miles 

 round Vesuvius, is said to have been 1 4 J in. 



On the 20th the mountain again appeared, but in a state 

 of partial eruption : for it was not till after the violent rains 

 which followed had fallen that it ceased to eject ignited 

 masses, and that surrounding nature resumed its wonted ap- 

 pearance. But how awful soever the effects of this eruption 

 may appear, they are not to be compared with those pheno- 

 mena which attended the activity of Tomboro, in the Island of 

 Sumbawa, in the year 1815. For the knowledge we have of 

 the eruption of this mountain we are indebted to our late 

 excellent and learned countryman, Sir Stamford Raffles. 



The convulsions of Tomboro commenced on the 5th of 

 April with loud rumbling sounds, which continued till the 

 7th of that month, when three columns of flame burst forth 

 from near the top of the mountain. A short time after the 

 lava began to flow, the mountain appeared as though it were 

 a solid body of fire; but, notwithstanding its vivid glare, it 

 was entirely obscured at eight o'clock, about an hour after 

 the ejection of lava, by a thick cloud of sand. Between nine 

 and ten o'clock ashes fell, and a whirlwind arose which struck 

 to the ground almost every house in the village of Sangar, 

 and carried away with tremendous force the lighter parts, up- 

 rooted the trees, and swept away both men and cattle in its 

 fury. About midnight the explosions commenced, and con- 

 tinued with intense violence till the evening of the 11th inst., 

 without intermission. After this they moderated, but did 

 not entirely cease till the 25th of July. Of all the villages 

 round Tomboro, only one. Tempo, escaped the destruction, 

 and, out of 12,000 inhabitants, only twenty-six were saved. 



The extreme violence of this eruption will be most evident 

 from the knowledge which the inhabitants of distant islands 

 had of its action. The fall of the ashes fortv miles distant 



