586 GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES IN MALAYSIA AND ASIA, 



The largest diameter of the entire crater is, according to my 

 estimate, full three miles. From the interior, near the middle, 

 rise several conical peaks or distinct volcanoes. The chief of 

 these, the mountain Brama (in Sanskrit, the god Brama, or tire), 

 is a perfectly I'egular cone and still in partial activity, with 

 occasional eruptions. It is surrounded, on one side, by the sea 

 of sand above mentioned. Adjoining it stands another conical 

 l)eak, more than 1,000 feet high, named Watangan (the Javanese 

 Campus martius), or Widadaren (abode of celestial nymphs), 

 covered externally with sand, quite naked, and, on account of its 

 steepness the top has never been examined. At a small distance 

 from the Brama rises a smaller cone, called Butak (" the bald"). 

 The two last have not exhibited any activity in recent times. 

 * * * The soil of the Tenger hills is extremely fertile con- 

 sisting of a deep vegetable mould, accumulated for many ages on 

 the sand and debris thrown up from the mountain. Vegetables 

 of northern latitudes, potatoes, cabbages, onions, &c., are planted 

 by the natives in great abundance, for the supply of the markets 

 of Pasiiruhan and Surabaya. European fruits, as ap|iles and 

 peaches are also raised, as well as wheat and other northern grains. 

 Rice refuses to grow, and the cocoa-nut produces no fruit " 

 (Geographical Preface and Postscript of " Plantse Javanicse 

 rariores," 1852). 



This was the description of the crater as Dr. Horsfield saw it 

 in 1825. The following are my own experiences in September, 

 1883, when with two European companions I visited the sand sea 

 from Tosari. We started early in the morning with a guide and 

 two coolies cari'ying necessary supplies, of which water was one, 

 for there was none to be had in the crater. The road was an open 

 carriage-way for four miles, and then became a wide bridle-track, 

 which descended into a thickly-wooded gorge. Here we saw many 

 wild pea-fowls, and the forest resounded with their cries. There 

 were no campongs, but plenty of those elegant l)nmboo houses by 

 the side of the stream which flowed through the valley. The pictur- 

 esque steep roofs, with the ornamental vertical gable reminded one 

 of Swiss chalets. The temperature, too, reminded one of them, 



