THE ERUPTION OF BAXDAI-SAX. 



163 



Earthquakes. 



No earthquakes on pre- 

 vious days. A few minutes 

 before the eruption curious 

 rumblings were heard, and 

 while we were wondering what 

 was the matter, a violent shak- 

 ing of the earth occurred about 

 8 times. At the end of the 3rd 

 shock, a black column of 

 smoke ascended from Bandai- 

 san. The character of this 

 earthquake was different from 

 that usually experienced, 

 heavy up and down move- 

 ments predominating. 



No earthquake on previous 

 days. On the 15th a slight 

 shock of very short duration 

 was felt. It passed unheeded 

 by most people. 



A slight shock at 4 p.m. on 

 the 12th. 



Meteorological Conditions. 



Very fine. No cloud streak- 

 ed the heaven. It was how- 

 ever somewhat hotter than 

 usual. No wind before the 

 eruption. Soon after the erup- 

 tion, a great whirling wind 

 suddenly swept over the east- 

 ern part of the mountain with 

 great violence, destroying Shi- 

 butani, Slhrokijo, Ojigakura, 

 etc. 



Very fine. Thermometer SS 3 

 F.; atmosphere calm. At the 

 time of the eruption a gentle 

 breeze blew from the west. 



Very fine ; calm in the 

 morning ; it was little hotter 

 in the afternoon, when the 

 thermometer stood at SB P., 

 and the northern wind began 

 to blow. 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



Some people say that they have seen 

 |fire on the mountain ; I saw two flashes 

 of lightning from the rising steam. At 

 Oda village more than 2 ri away on the 

 easfern side of the mountain, a spring 

 became as warm as hot bathing water 

 while the ashes were still falling ; but 

 at about 4 o'clock p.m. it became cold 

 again. This is evidently due to the 

 effect of heat imparted by falling ashes, 

 which often scalded the naked parts of 

 the body. The ashes also had the smell of 

 sulphurous acid. Thunder claps were 

 heard, followed by heavy rain continu- 

 ing 3 or 4 minutes, which was also warm 

 having the temperature of at least 70-80° 

 Fah. 



Two travellers who were at the time 

 of the outburst, resting at a pass of a 

 neighbouring ridge, observed a black 

 cloud rising from behind Bandai, among 

 which were occasionally seen reddish co- 

 loured objects. The phenomena lasted for 

 a few minutes; after this a white column 

 of steam was seen ascending from these 

 places ; at the same time Kobandai en- 

 tirely vanished from view. 



Black columns of smoke were seen 

 rising to a great height; neither lightning 

 nor fire were seen. There was observed 

 also a light reddish coloured cloud sp- 

 reading at right angles to the columns of 

 the smoke. 



