ERUPTION OF MOUNT TOMBORO. 



109 



miles in a rigtt line — as far as from New York to the 

 Keys off tlie soutliern extremity of Florida. The ashes 

 tliat were pom-eel into the air during this eruption fell 

 to the eastward, or against the prevailing wind, as far 

 as the middle of Floris, about two hundred and ten 

 geographical miles ; and westward on Java, in the 

 mountains of CherihoUj about two hundi'ed and sev- 

 enty miles from the volcano. So great was the quan- 

 tity of ashes thrown out at this time, that it is esti- 

 mated that on the island of Lombok, about ninety 

 miles distant, fort^-four thousand persons perished 

 in the famine that followed. Dr. Jnnghnhn thinks 

 that, within a circle described by a radius of two 

 hundred and ten miles, the average depth of the 

 ashes was at least two feet ; this mountahi, therefore, 

 must have ejected several times its own mass, and 

 yet no subsidence has been noticed in the adjoining 

 area, aud the only change that has been observed is, 

 that during the eruption Tomboro lost two-thirds of 

 its previous height,* The captain of a ship dispatched 



* The Rajah of Sftnjjflr, a village from twelve to fifteen miles south- 

 east of the volcano, was un eye-witness of this feart'Lil pkeiiomenon, and 

 thus descTibcs it ; " About 7 p. m,, on the 10th of April, three distinct 

 columns of flame burst forth, near the top of Tomboro Mountain, all of 

 them apparently witliiu the verge of tlie crater ; and, after ascending 

 separately to a very great height, tlieir tops* united in the air in a 

 troahled, confused manner. In a short time the whole mountain next 

 Sangir appeared like a body of litjuid tire, extendhig itself in every di- 

 rection. The fire and colmnns of fiatne continued to rajjo with una- 

 bated fary until the darkness-, caused by the quantity of falhng matter, 

 abscnred it at about 8 p, m. Stones at this time fell very thick at San- 

 gir, some of them as large as a man's two fists, but generally not larger 

 than walnuts. Between 0 and 10 p.m. ashes began to fall ; and soon 

 after, a violent whirlwind ensued, which blew down nearly every house 

 in the village of Sangir, carrying their tops and light paits along with 



