THE BURXIXG MOUNTAIN. 219 



rapidly brought us nearer to tliem over tlie quiet, 

 glassy sea. This is Pulo Ai on our right. It is 

 only ft'om three hundred to five hundred feet high, 

 and, as we see from the low cliffs on its shores, is 

 mostly composed of coral rock. This is also said 

 to be the case with the other islands outside of the 

 first cii'cle we have ali'eady described, and we notice 

 that, like it, they are all comparatively low. Now 

 changing our course to the east, we steam up under 

 the high, steep Gunong Api. On its north-northwest 

 side, about one-fourth of the distance fi'om its sum- 

 mit down to the sea, is a deep, wide gulf, out of 

 which rise thick, opaque clouds of white gas, that 

 now, in the still, clear aii*, are seen rolling grandly 

 upward in one gigantic, expanding column to the 

 sky. On its top also thin, veil-like clouds occasion- 

 ally gather, and then slowly float away like cumuli 

 dissolving in the pure ether. These cloud-masses 

 are chiefly composed of steam and sulphurous acid 

 gas, and, as they pour out, indicate what an active 

 laboratory Nature has established deep within the 

 bowels of this old volcano. 



The western horn of crescent-shaped Lontar is 

 before us. Its shore is composed of a series of 

 nearly perpendicular crags from two to three hun- 

 dred feet high, but particularly on the northern or 

 inner side the luxuriant vegetation of these tropical 

 islands does not allow the rocks to remain naked, 

 and from their crevices and upper edges hang down 

 broad sheets of a bright - green, unfading verdure. 

 The western entrance to the road, the one through 

 which we are now passing, is bet\veen the abrupt, 



