THE ERUPTION OF BANDAI-SAX. 137 



inhabitants and cattle, leaving no visible trace of their former existence. 

 Even the few survivors who escaped death by their timely absence 

 from home could not tell where their villages had been, as every land 

 mark was entirely obliterated. Seven villages — Miné, Xagasaka, 

 Shibutani, Shirakijö, Hinokuchi, Myöke and Ojigakura — were partial- 

 ly destroyed either by the avalanche of earth or by the storm of wind 

 and rubbish, and were thickly covered by ashes. The loss of life and 

 cattle was also considerable. The destruction of the three spas in 

 Bandai-san, viz., Kaminoyu, Nakanoyu and Shimonoyu, has already 

 been mentioned. In all, 166 houses were either totally or partially 

 destroyed. 



The total number of lives lost amounted to 461. The principal 

 cause of the death was the deluge of rock and mud debris. In some 

 instances people were buried under their roofs, having no time to es- 

 cape; but in the majority of cases they were caught in the swift tor- 

 rent of mud while endeavouring to reach some safe place. Many were 

 also battered by falling stones. A most remarkable incident occurred 

 in the village of Xagasaka which had 168 inhabitants, and was 

 attended with a serious loss of life. This village being' situated 

 behind Kushigamine was effectually screened from the direct attack 

 of the mud current. On the morning of the eruption when stones 

 and earth began to fall upon their roofs, accompanied by appalling 

 noises and earthquakes, men and women rushed out of their houses 

 leaving the old and young behind, and attempted to cross the valley 

 of Xagase in order to reach the opposite hill which they thought to be 

 a safer situation. They had only to travel not more than 500 metres 

 across, but of ninety-two who thus fled, not even one reached the 

 other side safely. 



Out of the total of 461, only 117 corpses were recovered, all 

 the remaining bodies being entirelv buried under the mud. The 



