202 



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



stretching to Seboekoe Island, and thence to the mainland. Whether 

 this connexion was formed ont of solid ground or only out of pumice- 

 stone and trunks of trees is not known. What is certain is, that at 

 the distance at which we then lay, it looked exceedingly like solid 

 ground, and so we thereupon turned back in order to look for another 

 passage. The very same phenomenon as had revealed itself near 

 Pulo Tiga was discovered also between Tims Island, Seboekoe, and 

 Pulo -Soenchal, and we, therefore, resolved to make our way out 

 through the Strait of Lagoendie. This channel we found relatively 

 clear, that is, in comparison with the other part of the bay. Having 

 got outside we discovered that here also we were entirely shut in ; so 

 steamed very slowly, stopping every now and then close by the 

 so-called layer, and made it out at last to be floating pumice-stone, 

 through noticing that the layer was heaved up and down by the 

 motion of the surf. 



Now steamed somewhat faster, and when we got into the middle of 

 the layer before referred to found it to be 7 or 8 feet thick. It took 

 us ten minutes to get clear of it, and then we held our course south of 

 Krakatau, the serang* being in the fore-yard, a man on the look out 

 forward, and the captain and first mate on the bridge. 



Wednesday, August 28th, 1883. — As we steamed past Krakatau we 

 noticed that the middle of the island had disappeared, and that no 

 smoke was to be seen in any direction. However, when we got east 

 of Krakatauf we discovered that between that island and Sebisie a reef 

 had formed, and that various craters planted on that reef were now 

 and then sending columns of smoke on high. As we neared the 

 coast of Java we observed that here, too, everything had been laid 

 desolate. 



We also perceived that the lighthouse on Java's Fourth Point was 

 entirely washed away ; nothing remaining except a stump some feet 

 high. 



At 4 o'clock reached Anjer roadstead, and although there was 

 nothing more to be seen of the place itself the captain and the first 

 engineer went ashore to learn what information was to be obtained. 



Ashore we met the Resident of Bantam, and concluded to return 

 straight on board in order to convey his Honour to the roadstead of 

 Bantam, and this because the Resident assured us that it was of very 

 great importance in the public interest that such should be done. 



We left Anjer Roads at 10 minutes to 5 o'clock, steamed round 

 St. Nicholas' Point, and went on taking our bearings for the Island of 

 Pulo Pundjang, and steering into Bantam Bay. 



* Serang is a sort of boatswain. 



f In another place he says also that, " Also half of the island ' Right in the Fair- 

 way ' had disappeared, and what is left of it has been broken into fragments with 

 open spaces between them." 



