1384.] 



On the Volcanic Eruption in Sunda Strait. 



201 



cutter lay aground, and some native boats which had been lying in the 

 neighbourhood at anchor were no more to be seen. 



Since it was very dangerous to stay where we were, and since if we 

 stayed we could render no assistance, we concluded to proceed to 

 Anjer under steam, and there to give information of what had taken 

 place, weighed anchor at 7.30 a.m., and following the direction of the 

 bay steered thereupon southwards. At 10 a.m. we were obliged to 

 come to anchor in the bay in 15 fathoms of water because the ash 

 rain kept continually growing thicker and thicker, and pumice-stone 

 also began to be rained, of which some pieces were several inches 

 thick. The air grew steadily darker and darker, and at 10.30 a.m. we 

 were in total darkness, just the same as on a very dark night. The 

 wind was from the westward, and began to increase till it reached the 

 force of a hurricane. So we let down both anchors and kept the 

 screw turning slowly at half speed in order to ride over the terribly 

 high seas* which kept suddenly striking us presumably in consequence 

 of a " sea quake," and made us dread being buried under them. 



Awnings and curtains from forward right up to the mainmast, three- 

 boat covers, and the uppermost awning of the quarter deck were blown 

 away in a moment. Some objects on deck which had been lashed got 

 loose and were carried overboard ; the upper deck hatchways and 

 those on the main deck were closed tightly, and the passengers for 

 the most part were sent below. Heavy storms. The lightning- 

 struck the mainmast conductor six or seven times, but did no damage. 

 The rain of pumice-stones changed to a violent mud rain, and this 

 mud rain was so heavy that in the space of ten minutes the mud lay 

 half a foot deep. 



Kept steaming with the head of the ship as far as possible seawards 

 for half an hour when the sea began to abate, and at noon the wind 

 dropped away entirely. Then we stopped the engine. The darkness 

 however remained as before, as did also the mud rain. The barometer 

 at that time stood again at 763"25 millims. Sounded the pumps. No 

 water. Let the crew and also such passengers as were on deck work at 

 throwing the mud overboard. At 2 p.m. the barometer was 763'30. 

 The mud rain changed into a light ash rain. 



The darkness remained the same until the following morning at 

 4 a.m. At daybreak began to get the chain clear and weigh the 

 anchor; got under steam at 6.30 a.m.; made out then Tims Island, 

 bearing S. by "W., and Pulo Soengal Island, bearing S.W. -J W. 

 Held on our course for Palo Tiga Island and fell in with much ash 

 and drift-wood. 



When we got about two English miles off Pulo Tiga, it appeared 

 that a connexion had been formed between the islands just mentioned 



* Or, as he says elsewhere, " Squalls, storms, and seas as high as the heavens." 



P 2 



