ABOUT VOLCANOS AND EARTHQUAKES. 35 



and the authentic accounts of the naturalist; but the 

 most extraordinary of them can bear no comparison, in 

 point of duration and force, with that of Mount Tomboro 

 in the Island of Sumbawa ! This eruption extended per- 

 ceptible evidences of its existence over the whole of the 

 Molucca Islands, over Java, a considerable portion of 

 the Celebes, Sumatra, and Borneo, to a circumference of 

 1000 statute miles from its centre" (i.e., to 1000 miles' 

 distance), "by tremulous motions and the report of explo- 

 sions. In a short time the whole mountain near the 

 Sang'ir appeared like a body of liquid fire, extending it- 

 self in every direction. The fire and columns of flame 

 continued to rage with unabated fury, until the darkness, 

 caused by the quantity of falling matter, obscured it at 

 about eight P.M. Stones at this time fell very thick at 

 Sang'ir, some of them as large as two fists, but generally 

 not larger than walnuts. Between nine and ten P.M., 

 ashes began to fall, and soon after a violent whirlwind 

 ensued, which blew down nearly every house of Sang'ir, 

 carrying the roofs and light parts away with it. In the 

 port of Sang'ir, adjoining Sumbawa, its effects were 

 much more violent, tearing up by the roots the largest 

 trees, and carrying them into the air, together with 

 men, horses, cattle, and whatsoever came within its 

 influence. This will account for the immense number 

 of floating trees seen at sea. The sea rose nearly 

 twelve feet higher than it had ever been known 

 to do before, and completely spoiled the only small 

 spots of rice land in Sang'ir, sweeping away houses and 

 everything within its reach. The whirlwind lasted about 



