4 Introduction 



took the investigation of the group of islands two months after the 

 eruption, found that enormous geographical changes had occurred 

 (see Sketch-map, PI. II.). The small island Polish Hat, part of Lang 

 island as well as two-thirds of Krakatau itself, embracing an area of 

 22'85 square kilometres [8'9 square miles], had sunk. The line of 

 fracture passed through the middle of Rakata, the highest peak of 

 which still remained. The face of the mountain from summit to sea- 

 level now formed a steep and almost vertical wall (Plate III.). At 

 the foot of the cliff and beyond in the new area of sea which occupied 

 the site of the former crowded group of islands, the lead touched 

 bottom at a depth of 100, 200 and in places 300 metres. 



No lava-flows appear to have occurred during the whole period of 

 volcanic activity, but on the other hand the three islands were 

 covered with pumice and layers of ash reaching on an average a 

 thickness of 30 metres and frequently 00 metres [98 196 ft.]. To 

 this extent Verlaten island and Lang island were increased in 

 height : the former had also increased in circumference. 



A new marginal belt was formed along the south-west to the 

 south-east coast of Krakatau, 4*6 square kilometres of land being 

 added to the zone of 107 square kilometres which remained. During 

 the short period of two months after the eruption subaerial denuda- 

 tion had already carved out of the loose strata deep valleys and gorges 

 in some cases with vertical walls from 6 to 8 metres high. In the 

 vicinity of the peak, where the newly formed deposit must have been 

 thinnest, patches of the original rock surface protruded here and 

 there exposing the blasted and carbonised remains of tree steins. 

 The last remnants of plant-life which had withstood the first 

 outbursts were everywhere destroyed and buried under a thick 

 covering of glowing stones. The islands, which were formerly green, 

 assumed the appearance of a desert of the most desolate type, a 

 desolation, uninhabited and in all probability for a considerable 

 period uninhabitable, separated by 19 to 25 kilometres [1215^ 

 miles] from the neighbouring and half-destroyed islands of Sebesi 

 and Seboekoe and by 35 to 45 kilometres [22 28 miles] from the 

 nearest points of the Javan and Sumatran coasts. But the first 

 pioneers of plant and animal life soon obtained a footing and to-day, 

 25 years since the complete destruction of all organic life on the 

 group of islands, these are again covered with a mantle of green, 

 the growth being in places so luxuriant that it is necessary to cut 

 one's way laboriously through the vegetation. 



