FILLING UP OF THE STRAIT. 163 



left between Sourabaya and Madura, which the 

 Kali mas will gradually convert into marshes, and 

 finally, all, except its own narrow channel, into 

 dry land. The delta of the Kediri, moreover, is 

 only separated by the narrow range of low hills 

 behind Gresik from that of the Solo River, a much 

 larger and more important stream, draining the 

 very centre of the island, and being by far the 

 largest river in it. I did not see anything of this 

 river, or the north-western part of the strait, but 

 from the maps and descriptions it appears to be 

 bringing down large deposits of detritus ; and I 

 think the action of the two rivers must at no great 

 distance of time utterly obliterate the strait. During 

 the war at the beginning of this century, large 

 frigates traversed the strait of Madura ; now, even 

 common merchant ships must quit it before they 

 are half loaded, and complete their cargoes at Point 

 Panka or Passarouan, according as they are bound 

 to the westward or the east. 



Jan. 12. — At eight this morning we sailed from 

 Sourabaya, to the great relief of most of us on board, 

 as we had become heartily tired of it. I was told 

 that rice was dearer now than it had ever been 

 known before, being 15 rupees a picul, and that 

 scarcity, approaching even to famine, was beginning 

 to be felt, that many people were searching the 

 woods for wild roots and fruits for a subsistence, 

 and considerable fears entertained of the result. 



m 2 



