150 



SUMBATFA. 



[chap. 



chamber in which was a raised wooden grave of an ordinary ]\Ialay 

 type — much like a child's cot. These tombs were said to be about 

 200 years old, and were much dilapidated and cracked, no doubt 

 in great part owing to the earthquakes and eruption of 1815. 



At the north-east end of Sumbawa, and barely six miles from 

 its shores, lies the island of Gunong Api^ or Sangeang. The 

 distance at which we had sighted it had led us to doubt the 



accuracy of the chart, in which its 

 height is given at 2040 feet, and on 

 taking measurements as we approached, we found it to be slightly 

 over 6000 feet, — a great elevation upon so small a base, for the 

 island is less than seven miles in breadth. The coast is steep- 

 to on the western side, and as we steamed slowly along, almost 

 within gunshot of the beach, in search of an anchorage, we had 

 plenty of time to admire the fine scenery it afforded. From a 

 shore of black konstone sand the mountain rises steeply up, at 

 first as a series of hummocky hills, covered with green and yellow 

 lalang grass, and separated from one another by narrow gullies 

 filled with dark-foliaged trees. Beyond, a sharp slope of dense 



1 A Malay name (G^mcmg, mountain ; ajn, fire) applied to two or three different 

 volcanic islands in tlie Eastern Archipelago. 



