SHORE OF SUM HAW A . 



393 



although here and there, over small spaces, broken, 

 contorted, or dipping rapidly in different directions. 

 The materials of these beds were generally dark 

 grey, but there were some beds of a lighter colour, 

 sometimes nearly white, and they all had a great 

 regularity and persistency, as if of aqueous origin. 

 Even if composed of volcanic materials, they must, I 

 think, have been deposited beneath the sea. 



A very strong current ran through this strait 

 towards the north, sweeping us with great rapidity, 

 adding at least four knots an hour to our speed. 

 The Sumbawa shore had the same character 

 throughout— lofty and broken, furrowed by dark 

 ravines, with strange crags and rocky precipices, 

 and though covered here and there with woods, 

 especially at the foot of the hills, we could make out 

 no sign of cultivation or human residence. There 

 is, however, a town called Alass on that side, about 

 the centre of the strait, at which, it is said, passing 

 vessels can procure abundance of refreshments at a 

 very reasonable rate. 



On the Lombock side, a dark-looking beach, with 

 a few black crags, succeeded to the white cliffs ; 

 but a thick and rich-looking vegetation clothed the 

 rising ground behind it and concealed the houses 

 from our sight. We saw a prahu or two at anchor, off 

 the spot where the town of Bali Laboadjee is marked 

 in the chart ; but passed too rapidly and at too 

 great a distance to discern much of the character of 

 the country. The ground slill continued rather low 



