SUMBAWA. 205 



these débris represented at least 150, and according to some authorities over 500, 

 cubic miles of matter ejected or blown from the mountain on this occasion. The 

 12,000 inhabitants of the surrounding district were all buried under the rain of 

 scoriae; but j)robably as many as one hundred thousand perished during the 

 famine and epidemics caused by the destruction of the forests, the loss of cattle, 

 the ruin of the irrigation works and the general havoc spread over the adjoining 

 islands by this terrific outburst. Over 40,000 Sasaks died of hunger in Lombok, 

 and the population of Sumbawa, which in 1815 was about 170,000, was still only 

 75,500 in 1847. Even at present the Timboro peninsula remains almost a com- 

 plete desert. 



Throughout a great part of Indonesia the " night of ashes " was long con- 

 sidered the chief event in history, and served as the starting point of a new 

 chronological era. 



The eastern part of Sumbawa is often agitated by violent earthquakes, and 

 here also are numerous volcanoes, such as Dindi (5,160 feet), Soro Mandi (4,570 feet) 

 and Aru Hassa (5,520 feet) near the north coast, and towards the south-east angle 

 Sambon (4,130 feet), and Lambu (4,650 feet). Lastly the islet of Sangean, called 

 also Gunong Api (6,900 feet), is still in a constant state of agitation, emitting at 

 short intervals jets of vapour and ashes. 



The Malayan inhabitants of Sumbawa have been much influenced by the cultured 

 peoples of Celebes, with whom they carry on a large part of their trade, and by 

 whom they have long been governed. The Bugi language of South Celebes is current, 

 with other Malay dialects, in some districts of the north coast, while that of Macassar 

 is the only literary standard in the island. Nearly all the natives profess Islam, 

 but some groups of Orang Dongo, or "Highlanders," occupying the forests south 

 of Mount Aru Hassa, are still pagans, though preserving a few practices dating 

 from the early visits of the Hindu missionaries to their mountains. They call the 

 spirits by the Sanskrit name, dera, and offer them fruits and flowers. At night 

 torches alone are used, the light of lamps being regarded as ill omened. The 

 property of the departed is shared equally amongst all the kindred, a share 

 being also reserved for the deceased. The cattle are sacrificed on their graves, and 

 the other articles burnt or buried for their use in the other world. These high- 

 landers keep aloof from all direct contact with Europeans, and their barter with 

 the outer world is confined to certain clearings in the forests on the verge of their 

 territory. 



Sumbawa, capital of the western state which bears the same name, lies on a bay 

 on the north coast exposed to the north-west winds. At the time of the Timboi'o 

 explosion, only twenty-six of the inhabitants escaped alive, but at jDresent it has a 

 mixed population of natives and Celebes immigrants numbering altogether about 

 six thousand. This place exports cotton, sandalwood, sapanwood {cœmlpinia, or 

 " red wood "), and an excellent breed of ponies. 



Bima, on the east side of the bay of like name, is almost the only market in the 

 section of the island lying east of Timboro. It is the capital of a native state 

 which also comprises the old breached crater of Gili Banta, east of Sapi strait, the 



