104 
The Krakatau-eruption might be called an experiment of Na- 
ture; it is utterly impossible that such a total destruction of all 
forms of life should be wrought by the hand of man or archieved 
by human ingenuity. For not only was there absolute annihi- 
lation of all that lived, but in addition the entire surface was 
shrouded with a thick layer of burning-hot ashes, so that it 
may be said that the soil was sterilized. 
On considering the present state of the fauna and flora, when 
one sees the gigantic Ficus-trees and the huge snakes that occur 
on the island, one is involuntarily inclined to wonder whether 
as a matter of fact everything was really destroyed, or whether 
some individuals might not have escaped destruction in that 
cataclysm. And especially the layman who in such cases is apt 
to jump at conclusions, will readily presume to call in question 
the assertions of competent investigators. We have, however, 
the evidence and statements of men as Versrex ') and Trevs ”) 
who were so to say on the spot, and we are in reason bound 
to accept their statements as to the absolute extinction of the 
entire animal and vegetable life, unless facts of a serious nature 
should be discovered which would justify doubts as to the 
reliability of them; and such facts, we have the word of other 
observers for this, have not been found. One has therefore no 
right to say that, since snakes of 18 ft. and more occur on 
_ Krakatau, therefore some animal life must have been spared. 
Now we are entitled to say no more than that it is remarkable 
that after 36 years such big animals should be in existence on 
the island, and to ask ourselves the question: how is this to be 
explained ? 
The loose materials accumulated by the eruption has already » 
____ been washed away here and there and especially in the ravines 
_ or gorges the original rock has~ come to the surface again, 
oe and in those parts one can indeed find charred and rotted 
7 a. tree-boles, but everything else came into existence after 1883: 
. _ a I said before Nature has ieee made a — experiment ; 
R. D. uM. reg oe hg 4885. ; 
org, Vel VIE 188 fe Siete Mie de Krekstan, Ann. d. Jard. Bot. de 
