REPORT ON THE PETROLOGY OF OCEANIC ISLANDS. 153 



XII.— THE VOLCANO OF GOONONG API (BANDA ISLANDS). 



The whole Banda group, comprising twelve islands, with a total area of about 18 

 square miles, is of igneous origin. Volcanic activity is now concentrated in one of 

 the two islets which protect the port of Great Banda on the north-west of the island. 

 This volcano, Goonong Api (Malay = Fire Mountain), has been long known. The first 

 recorded eruption took place as far back as 1629 ; another followed in 1690, when 

 Goonong Api entered on a state of activity which lasted five years ; and then followed 

 the eruptions of 1765, 1775, 1816, 1820, and 1825. In November 1825 the 

 eruptions were accompanied by earthquakes which ruined Great Banda and the 

 islet of Pulo Neira. 



9 



The naturalists of the Challenger explored Goonong Api towards the end of 

 September 1874, and observed a great number of facts, which will be summarised 

 before commencing the description of the eruptive products collected up to the very 

 summit of the volcano. 1 The mountain rises in a conical form to 1860 feet above 

 sea-level. Neither the Dutch residents nor the native Malays attempt to scale the 

 rugged heights save on rare occasions. M. Bickmore, one of the first to climb 

 the mountain, has described his expedition, probably exaggerating the dangers of the 

 ascent; the Challenger's staff, in order to study volcanic activity in the crater itself, 

 climbed the volcano by the eastern slope. Up to within 700 or 800 feet of the summit 

 the ground was covered with brushwood, which gave something to hold on by, and 

 rendered the ascent, if not easy, at least practicable. On passing the upper limit of 

 vegetation the naturalists came upon a vast accumulation of loose blocks, which rose 

 up like a wall before them, and gave way when stepped upon. Above these heaps of 

 broken stones the ground was firmer, the blocks of lava and volcanic ashes forming 

 a solid foothold, but sharp angular pieces of lava piercing the bed of ashes made 

 even this part of the cone troublesome to climb. 



Exhalations of acid vapours escaped from all the cracks on the summit, and acted 

 energetically on the lava, which was in some places entirely transformed superficially 

 into a white substance looking like chalk. This action of the fumaroles is frequently 

 confined to the outside of the rock, the interior preserving its fresh appearance 

 almost unimpaired. The escaping vapours had a temperature of 121° C. ; they were 

 acid, and had a strong sulphurous smell. 2 



1 See Moseley, Notes of a Naturalist &c., p. 382 ; and JYarr. Chall. Exp., vol. i. p. 561. 



2 Reference will be made, in describing the yoloano of Camiguin, to the high temperature at which algae live in 

 warm springs escaping from crevices in the lava. Analogous observations were made on Goonong Api ; gelatinous 

 masses made up of algas were found attached round the mouths from which jets of vapour escaped. The vapour had a 

 temperature of 121° C., and the plants were fixed to the rock where the thermometer marked C0° C. In a crack of the 

 lava whence a sulphurous emanation escaped a plant was growing in a soil at a temperature of 38° ; a foot and a half 

 from this point the temperature of the rock was 104° C. 



(PHTS. CHEM. CIIALL. EXP. — PART VII. — 1889.) 20 



