360 COMPEXDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



wide, having an estimated area of about 6300 square 

 miles. Its eastern part was, until 1859, claimed by the 

 Portuguese, who had small settlements, protected by forts, 

 at Larantuka, Ende Bay, and other places. It is very 

 mountainous, and has numerous active and extinct 

 volcanoes, but the older rocks would also seem to be 

 represented, although to what extent is uncertain, for 

 the interior is a terra incognita to Europeans. The 

 liighest peak is Eomba, near the middle of the south 

 coast, with an elevation of 9187 feet. Eokka, about 

 15 miles west of it, is also a fine volcano, reaching a 

 height of 6562 feet. At the east end of Ende Bay, 

 Gunong Api runs out as a promontory into the sea, and 

 is in a state of constant activity, as also appears to be 

 another peak a few miles eastward. At the eastern end 

 of the island three fine volcanoes dominate the Flores 

 Strait; at the southern entrance is Lobetobi, 7425 feet 

 in height, a twin peak of which the lower crater is 

 active ; at the northern narrows rises Illimandiri ( 5 1 7 

 feet), which appears extinct, but has hot springs at its 

 base. Katabelo occupies the middle promontory, facing 

 another volcano on Solor Island, and is 3600 feet high 

 only. The island of Palani or Rusa Eaja, lying five or 

 six miles seaward from the middle of the north coast, is 

 also a volcano, the height of which has been found to be 

 4593 feet. These are the chief mountains at present 

 known, but an exploration of the island would no doubt 

 result in the discovery of others. 



On the coasts of the island, especially on the northern 

 side, we find the usual intrusive foreign population. In 

 1847 a colony of Bima natives were settled in Bari Bay 

 to serve as a check on the pirates who used to resort 

 thither, and they are now found some distance inland 

 and along the coast. A mixed race of Bugis people also 



