MAGNIFICENT PROSPECT. 65 



end of the island, while between us and them lay a 

 valley running from one sea to the other, in which 

 were Klakka and Lamajang, and in the centre of 

 which rose the cone of the Lamongan. This hill, 

 which we had at first so much admired, we now 

 looked down upon, so that had its crater been wide 

 enough we could almost have seen to the bottom of 

 it. It really looked quite insignificant, with its 

 tiny jet of smoke, when compared to the perfect 

 cone of the Serniru, which we could see on our 

 right, still towering above us over the nearer peaks 

 and ridges, and rolling forth at intervals huge 

 volumes of smoke and steam. Below our feet lay 

 the mountain-sides, that looked like a net-work of 

 ridges and ravines, all winding, radiating, and sub- 

 dividing downwards and outwards in seemingly 

 inextricable confusion. Not a single smooth or 

 continuous slope could be seen ; nothing but steep 

 precipitous furrows and sharp jagged crests, the 

 latter crowned with a feathery-edge of pine-like 

 casuarinas, the former dark with impenetrable 

 wood, till both sank almost indistinguishable among 

 the magnificent forests of the lower slopes. The 

 sea and the plains were partially obscured by 

 creeping clouds and mists, gradually dispersing; 

 while across the bosom of the distant mountains 

 stretched those horizontal bars of streaky cloud, so 

 characteristic of morning among mountain scenery. 

 Noble as was this prospect, a new surprise 

 awaited us when, advancing a few steps, we 



VOL. II. f 



