Volcano of Makian. 327 



We then rowed across to tlie island of Motir, which is so sur- 

 rounded with coral reefs that it is dangerous to approach. 

 These are perfectly flat, and are only covered at high water, 

 ending in craggy vertical walls of coral in very deep water. 

 When there is a little wind, it is dangerous to come near these 

 rocks ; but luckily it was quite smooth, so we moored to their 

 edge, while the men crawled over the reef to the land, to make 

 a fire and cook our dinner — the boat having no accommoda- 

 tion for more than heating water for my morning and even- 

 ing coffee. We then rowed along the edge of the reef to the 

 end of the island, and were glad to get a nice westerly breeze, 

 which carried us over the strait to the island of Makian, 

 where we arrived about 8 p.m. The sky was quite clear, and 

 though the moon shone brightly, the comet appeared with 

 quite as much splendor as when we first saw it. 



The coasts of these small islands are very different accord- 

 ing to their geological formation. The volcanoes, active or 

 extinct,' have steep black beaches of volcanic sand, or are fringed 

 with rugged masses of lava and basalt. Coral is generally 

 absent, occurring only in small patches in quiet bays, and 

 rarely or never forming reefs. Ternate, Tidore, and Makian 

 belong to this class. Islands of volcanic origin, not themselves 

 volcanoes, but which have been probably recently upraised, 

 are generally more or less completely surrounded by fringing 

 reefs of coral, and have beaches of shining white coral sand. 

 Their coasts present volcanic conglomerates, basalt, and in 

 some places a foundation of stratified rocks, with patches of 

 upraised coral. March and Motir are of this character, the 

 outline of the latter giving it the appearance of having been a 

 true volcano, and it is said by Forrest to have thrown out 

 stones in ] 778. The next day (Oct. 12), we coasted along the 

 island of Makian, which consists of a single grand volcano. 

 It was now quiescent, but about two centuries ago (in 1646) 

 there was a terrible eruption, which blew ujp the whole top of 

 the mountain, leaving the truncated jagged summit and vast 

 gloomy crater valley which at this time distinguished it. It 

 was said to have been as lofty as Tidore before this catas- 

 trophe.* 



' Soon after I left the Arcliipelai,'o, on tbe 29!h of December, 1862, another 

 eruption of this mountain suddenly took place, which caused great devastation 



