EARTHQUAKES. 249 



by habit and by superstition. There are some four 

 or five divisions within the grounds, each having a 

 sort of carved stone hchgate in the centre, in the shape 

 of a hve-roofed pagoda; it is a curious place altogether, 

 and admirably kept. On our return drive to tlie 

 town, we passed a splendid banyan tree, said to be 

 the largest known, it certainly appeared of enormous 

 dimensions. The Resident now drove me to his own 

 house, where he entertained me at tiffin, and aftei'- 

 wards showed me the effect of the memorable earth- 

 quake of June, L867, which had caused the death 

 of many hundreds of natives and destroyed the 

 greater portion of Djokjokarta, amongst which was 

 the Dutch residency, a perfect palace, constructed of 

 stone and marble, from which the Resident and his 

 family only just escaped with their lives. As the 

 disaster happened during the night when all the 

 doors were closed, and great difficulty was experienced 

 in getting them open whilst the shock, which was of 

 unusual duration, lasted, had not assistance come 

 from without, all the inmates must have been buried 

 under the ruins, which soon covered the wdiole 

 space. It was a lesson to construct houses in tropical 

 Java of a more giving material. The new building 

 consists of a framework of bamboo and other supjile 

 timber. Here I was shown a fine collection of antique 



