BY THE REV. J. E. TENI80N- WOODS. 



103 



i out US. From Prob dingo is the shortest. There is a good 

 carriage road of 16 miles from Probolingo to Sukapura, and then 

 a steep climb up the mountain side and across the crater of about 

 20 miles to the hostelry of Tosari. This route enables one to see 

 more of the country, as ponies may be obtained to continue the 

 journey to the sanitary or hill station of Malang. The guides at 

 Tosari can be easily obtained for the ascent of Semeru, a journey 

 of no great difficulty, but requiring a little more endurance and 

 strength. Of course when the volcano is unusually active the 

 attempt cannot be made. 



Semeru. — The crater of Semeru is a basin of 3 miles or more 

 in its greatest length from north to south, with a peak or cone in 

 the centre. There is a wide opening in the walls ou its eastern 

 side leading down to the town of Senduro, this being a large lava 

 stream. The active peak of Seineru, or the highest point of the 

 mountain, is to the south of the ancient crater. From the peak 

 immense ridges of tufa and scoriie extend in a radiating semi- 

 circular dheetion to the southward, a distance of 15 or 1G miles. 

 The volcano is always in activity, and sometimes sends forth a 

 huge puff of smoke and a shower of cinders and stones, accom- 

 panied with loud explosions every quarter of an hour. It is the 

 highest mountain in Java, and its name is said by Crawfurd to be 

 derived from two Sanskrit words : Su, a qualitative of excellence, 

 and meru, the Olympus of the Hindoos ; hut I mast say that 

 these very apposite etymologies are somewhat suspicious. Their 

 simplicity is their fault ; for probably the clue is much more 

 recondite and lies deejier below the surface. 



The route chosen by me when visiting the Tengger mountain 

 was to take the railway from Pasuruan to Malang, a distance of 

 say 45 miles, and then across the country E.N.E. to Tosari, 15 

 miles further. This enabled me to see the wonderful ruins of 

 SingosarL These are situated near Malang, which itself is a 

 s. i uitary station for the military, about 2,000 feet above the level 

 of the sea. It lies on a table-laud between Mount Kawi and 

 Mount Tengger. The former is 9580 feet above the sea lovel, 



