A Dutch Mail-Steamer. 293 



covered with an unusually dense and brilliant green vegeta- 

 tion, indicating that we had passed heyond the range of the 

 hot dry winds from the plains of Central Australia. Banda 

 is a lovely little spot, its three islands inclosing a secure har- 

 bor from whence no outlet is visible, and with water so trans- 

 parent that livmg corals and even the minutest objects are 

 plainly seen on the volcanic sand at a depth of seven or 

 eight fathoms. The ever-smoking volcano rears its bare cone 

 on one side, while the two larger islands are clothed with 

 vegetation to the summit of the hills. 



Going on shore, I walked up a pretty path which leads 

 to the highest point of the island on which the town is sit- 

 uated, where there is a telegraph station and a magnificent 

 view. Below lies the little town, with its neat red-tiled 

 white houses and the thatched cottages of the natives, bound- 

 ed on one side by the old Portuguese fort. Beyond, about 

 half a mile distant, lies the larger island in the shape of a 

 horseshoe, formed of a range of abrupt hills covered with 

 fine forest and nutmeg gardens ; while close opposite the 

 town is the volcano, forming a nearly perfect cone, the lower 

 part only covered with a light-green bushy vegetation. On 

 its north side the outline is more uneven, and there is a slight 

 hollow or chasm about one-fifth of the way down, from which 

 constantly issue two columns of smoke, as well as a good 

 deal from the rugged surface around, and from some spots 

 nearer the summit. A white efflorescence, probably sulphur, 

 is thickly spread over the upper part of the mountain, mark- 

 ed by the narrow black vertical lines of water gullies. The 

 smoke unites as it rises, and forms a dense cloud, which in 

 calm damp weather spreads out into a wide canopy hiding 

 the top of the mountain. At night and early morning it 

 often rises up straight, and leaves the whole outline clear. 



It is only when actually gazing on an active volcano that 

 one can fully realize its awfulness and grandeur. Whence 

 comes that inexhaustible fire whose dense and sulphureous 

 smoke for ever issues from this bare and desolate peak? 

 Whence the mighty forces that produced that peak, and still 

 from time to time exhibit themselves in the earthquakes that 

 always occur in the vicinity of volcanic vents ? The knowl- 

 edge from childhood of the fact that volcanoes and earth- 



