CHAP. XXIII.] VOLCANO OF MAKLAN. <2,7 



according to their geological formation. The volcanoes, 

 active or extinct, have steep black beaches of volcanic 

 sand, or are fringed with rugged masses of lava and basalt. 

 Coral is generally absent, occurring only in small patches 

 in quiet bays, and rarely or never forming reefs. Ternate, 

 Tidore, and Makian belong to this class. Islands of 

 volcanic origin, not themselves volcanoes, but which have 

 been probably recently upraised, are generally more or 

 less completely surrounded by fringing reefs of coral, and 

 have beaches of sliining white coral sand. Their coasts 

 present volcanic conglomerates, basalt, and in some places 

 a foundation of stratified rocks, with patches of upraised 

 coral. Mareh and Motir are of this character, the out- 

 line of the latter giving it the appearance of having 

 been a true volcano, and it is said by Forrest to have 

 thrown out stones in 1778. The next day (Oct. 12th), w^e 

 coasted along the island of Makian, which consists of a 

 single grand volcano. It was now quiescent, but about two 

 centuries ago (in 1646) there was a terrible eruption, which 

 blew up the whole top of the mountain, leaving the 

 truncated jagged summit and vast gloomy crater valley 

 which at this time distinguished it. It was said to have 

 been as lofty as Tidore before this catastrophe.'- 



1 Soon after I left the Archipelago, on the 29th of December, 1862, 

 another eruption of this mountain suddenly took place, which caused 

 great devastation in the island. All the villages and crops were de- 



