TOMBORO. 13 



and the kingdom of Borneo Proper, on the mainland, 

 being situated near the surface of the earth in thick 

 and apparently inexhaustible veins, it will prove of 

 the greatest value to our increasing steam communi- 



the eruptions were heard more loud and more frequent ; from 

 Cheribon eastward the air became darkened by the quantity of 

 falling ashes ; the sun was nearly darkened, and in some situations, 

 particularly at Solo and Rembang, many said that they felt a tremu- 

 lous motion of the earth. It was universally remarked in the more 

 eastern districts, that the explosions were tremendous, continuing 

 frequently during the llth, and of such violence as to shake the 

 houses perceptibly. An unusual thick darkness was remarked 

 all the following night, and the greater part of the next day. 

 At Solo candles were lighted at 4 P.M. of the 12th; at M&gelan 

 in Kedu, objects could not be seen at 300 yards' distance. At 

 Gresik and other districts more eastward, it was dark as 

 night in the greater part of the 12th April, and this saturated 

 state of the atmosphere lessened as the cloud of ashes passed along 

 and discharged itself on its way. Thus, the ashes that were eight 

 inches deep at Banyuwangi were but two in depth at Sumenap, 

 and less in Gresik, and the sun does not seem to have been 

 actually obscured in any district west of Semarang. 



" 'All reports concur in stating, that so violent and extensive 

 an eruption has not happened within the memory of the oldest 

 inhabitant, nor within tradition. They speak of similar effects in 

 a lesser degree, when an eruption took place from the volcano of 

 Karang Asam in Bali, about seven years ago ; and it was at first 

 supposed that this mountain was the seat of the eruption. The 

 Balinese in Java attributed the event to a recent dispute between 

 the two Rajahs of Bali Baliling, which terminated in the death of 

 the younger rajah by order of his brother. 



" ' The haziness and heat of the atmosphere, and occasional fall 

 of volcanic ashes, continued until the 14th, and in some parts of 

 the island until the 17th of April. They were cleared away uni- 

 versally by a heavy fall of rain, after which the atmosphere became 

 clear and more cool ; and it would seem that this seasonable relief 

 prevented much injury to the crops, and removed an appearance 



