388 



7 ' ransactions . 



The best description of the island is that given by Captain Purey Oust.* 

 Whilst he was surveying the island in H.M.S. " Dart " in 1894 he witnessed 

 an eruption of great magnitude. Captain Purey Cust describes a great 

 central ash plain, as much as five or six miles in diameter, in the more 

 elevated part of the island. On the edge of this, on its western side, are 

 situated the two volcanoes Marum and Benbow, 4,380 ft. and 3,720 ft. 

 respectively. The latter of these was active at the time of Purey Gust's 

 visit, though the activity that took place in the crater of the volcano 

 was explosive only, for the lava-streams which were emitted at that time 

 escaped from orifices two to five miles to the west of the volcano. One of 

 these streams flowed north-west and then north, finally reaching the coast 

 at Krong Point after flowing for a distance of six miles. Another stream, 

 which flowed from a point farther to the west, filled a small lake. The 

 former of these streams is said to be no more than 10 yards wide in places. 



Dec. X 

 Dip ?\. 

 Dec. 73. 



River, 



Sketch-map of Ambeym Island. 



There was a small eruption near the extreme east of the island in 1889. 

 In 1910 a lava-stream issued from near the base of Mount Marum, and 

 flowed in a N.N.W. direction, finally reaching the sea at a point about five 

 miles distant from its point of origin. 



Dr. Bowie has kindly given me the following account of the devastating 

 eruptions of December, 1913, which were almost confined to the extreme 

 western end of the island. 



Some of the essential features of the island are shown in the appended 

 map, which has been copied from that of Captain Purey Cust. On this 

 map Dr. Bowie has kindly indicated the direction of the lava-flows of 1910, 

 1913, and 1914. A few of the surface features of the island are indicated 

 in the accompanying sketch-map, but in order to obtain a good idea of its 

 topography it is necessary to consult the map of Captain Purey Cust. 



* Journ. & Proc. Roy. Geog. Soc, 1896, p. 586. 



