200 



On the Volcanic Eruption in Sunda Strait. [Jan. 10. 



columns of smoke. At 5 p.m. Pulo Tiga Island lay about half an 

 English mile to the west of us. Were steering then N7W. J 1ST. (time 

 bearing). At 6.15 p.m. the southernmost of the Chandon Islands was 

 bearing north-east. 



Laid the course next for the roadstead of Telok Betong, which we 

 reached at 7.30 p.m., and where we anchored in six fathoms of water 

 with thirty fathoms shackle outside the hawse-pipe. 



From 6 o'clock we had rain of ashes and small bits of stone, and 

 there was a stiff breeze from the "N.W. and W.N.W. 



Monday, August 27th. — Finding that at midnight on the evening of 

 our arrival there was still no boat come off to us from the shore, and 

 as the weather was now much calmer, I sent the first mate in the gig 

 with a crew of six men to find out what was the reason of this. 

 About 1 a.m. he returned, and stated that it had been impossible to 

 land on account of the heavy current and surf ; also that the harbour 

 pier-head stood partly under water. 



The Government steamer " Berouw," which lay anchored near the 

 pier-head, hailed the mate as he was returning on board, and the 

 people on board her then stated to him that it was impossible to land 

 anywhere, and that a boat which had put off from the shore had 

 already been wrecked. That by 6 p.m. on Sunday evening it had 

 already begun to be stormy, and that the stormy weather had been 

 accompanied by a current which swept round and round (apparently a 

 sort of whirlpool). When the mate had come on board, we resolved 

 to await daylight before taking any further steps ; however, for the 

 sake of security, we steamed several ships' lengths outwards, because 

 the sound of a ship's bell which seemed to be approaching us made us 

 suspect that the ship must be adrift, and wishing therefore to avoid 

 a collision w T e re-anchored in nine fathoms with thirty fathoms 

 shackle outside the hawse-pipe. We kept the ordinary sea-watch, 

 and afterwards heard nothing more of the bell. When day broke, it 

 appeared to us to be still a matter of danger to send a boat ashore; 

 and we also discovered that a revenue cutter was foul of a sailing- 

 vessel which lay in the roadstead, and that the "Berouw" lay very 

 close in shore. Later we found that the "Berouw r " was stranded. 

 However, owing to the violent winds and currents, we did not dare to 

 send a boat to her assistance. 



About 7 p.m. we saw some very high seas, presumably an upheaval 

 of the sea, approaching us up the roadstead. These seas poured 

 themselves out upon the shore and flowed inland, so that we presumed 

 that the inhabitants who dwelt near the shore must be drowned. The 

 lighthouse was altogether carried away, and the "Berouw" then lay 

 high upon the shore among the cocoanut trees.* Also the revenue 



* And as far as ascertained since, every sold on board was ki!led. The steamer 

 now lies two miles inland. 



