Q8 ■ Description of a (Volcanic Eruption 



volcanic dust which fell in the bay of Beema; for on mixing any 

 quantity of the same dust with water, it soon sank to the bot- 

 tom of the vessel containing the water, and formed there a firm 

 substance, much the same in colour and consistence as the clay- 

 like matter which our lead and anchor brought up from the bot- 

 tom of the bav of Beema. It is necessary, however, to mention, 

 that although our lead could not penetrate through the layers of 

 clay-like matter then on the bottom of the bay of Beema, our 

 anchor did, ;uki, on being heaved up when we left Beema, showed 

 us both the soft mud which we had before the great eruption 

 found all over the bay, and above that the layers of firm mud 

 which seem to have bcoii made by the falling dust. 



It was reported by Captain Eatwell, of the Honourable Com- 

 pany's cruizer Benares, that the eartlujuake attending the erup- 

 tion had raised a bank on wliich that ship struck, in a place 

 where the Honourable Company's cruizer Ternate some months 

 before it had floated in safety. 



The people living on the peninsula formed by the mountain 

 had traded much in horses, of which their country produced a 

 verv good small breed. Thousands of them and their horses 

 were, acc(>r(ling to all accounts, destroyed by the eruption : the 

 vegetation was ruined, and multitudes of the people obliged to 

 emigrate in order to obtain subsistence. 



I understand that at the town of Tanbora, situated at the bot- 

 tom of the west side of the mountain, the sea has made a per- 

 manent encroachment, burying that town to the depth of three 

 fathoms. 



Three distinct streams of a dark-coloured lava, according to 

 the leport of the people on the island, issued from the hill ; of 

 these I could observe something as I passed going to Beema in 

 July following. One stream on the east side of Tanbora seemed 

 to 1)6 emitting smoke and vapour even at that time. 



During the darkness the sounds before described were parti- 

 <;ularly loud and frequent. At limes, indeed, they were so loud 

 as to produce momentary earthquakes of no inconsiderable vio- 

 lence. 



All this while there was no wind in any direction in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the mountain, or at some distance from it ; yet the 

 sea was so violently agitated as to wash away some houses near 

 it on Sumbawa, and to th.ow on the beach near the town of Beema 

 several large trading boats that had been at anchor in the bay. 



One of the most remarkable circumstances of the eruption is 

 the experience of its effects at immense distances." At Samanap, 

 on the islandof Madura, in lat. 70" 5'' S. and in long. 1 13" 57' E., 

 there was, according to the information I received from Mr. Lid- 

 del, master attendant there, and who was at Samanap at the 



time. 



