THE OCEAN UNEXPLORED AND UNEXPLORABLE 253 



most terrible of these outbreaks occurred in 1883, at 

 Krakatoa, in the Straits of Sunda between Java and 

 Sumatra, on the direct highway to the Far East. 

 Perhaps because of the spread of observatories all over 

 the world the universal character of this cataclysm 

 was noted all round the globe, proving how tremendous 

 was its effect upon the atmosphere. An atmospheric 

 wave of the most marked character recorded itself 

 upon every barograph in the world for three successive 

 days, and the sky presented for weeks, to masses of 

 wondering awestricken spectators, the most marvellous 

 blends of lurid colours at sunset and sunrise, owing 

 to the presence in the higher strata of the atmosphere 

 of incalculable quantities of volcanic dust. But of 

 the world-wide effect of the submarine concussion we 

 know little. Its local effects transcended all previous 

 experience, mention having been made of waves one 

 hundred feet high recoiling landward, and inundating 

 in a few moments many hundreds of square miles. 

 But enough has probably been said of this particular 

 destructive form of ocean's activity, and I gladly 

 pass on to the great Pacific, which is in some respects 

 peculiarly distinct from the Atlantic. 



First, in that it does not owe anything for its banks 

 in the north to what has been considered the prime 

 factor in forming, for instance, the great bank of 

 Newfoundland, viz., the gradual melting of southern 

 drifting icebergs laden with detritus from the Arctic 

 lands, which has been deposited in this favourable 

 position during the course of ages. For the only way 

 into the Pacific Ocean from the Arctic is through 

 Behrings Straits, which are much too shallow to permit 

 the passage of any piece of ice large enough to be 



