THE EARLY HISTORY Oh' THE BANDAR 



241 



water rose nine feet higlier than in common spring 

 floods. Several houses near the sea were broken 

 into pieces and washed away, and the ship Briel, 

 lying near by, was whiiied round three times." * 



However, all these events are but as yesterday 

 when we glance over the early history of this an- 

 cient volcano ; for, if we can judge by analog)^, taking 

 as our guide the great crater ali-eady referred to as 

 this day existing among the lofty Tenger Mountains 

 on Java, we see in our raind^s eye an immense vol- 

 canic mountain before us. From its high crater dur- 

 ing the lapse of time pour out successive overflows 

 of lava whicb has solidified into the trachyte of 

 Lontar. That period is succeeded by one in which 

 ashes, sand, and hot stones are ejected, and which 

 insensibly passes into recent times. During one of 

 these mighty throes the western half of the crater- 

 wall disappeared beneath the sea, if the process of 

 subsidence had gone on so far at that time. Slowly 

 it sinks until it is at least four feet lower than at the 

 present day, for we found on the westeni end of 

 Lontai' a large bank of coral rock at that height. 

 The outer islands are now wholly submerged. This 

 period of subsidence is followed by one of up- 

 heaval, but not till the slow-building coral polyps 

 had made great reefs, which have become white, 

 chalky cliffs, and attained their present elevation 

 above the sea^ A tropical vegetation by degi'ees 



* Iq thia caa© the facts that the water in the roads did mt pour out 

 into the seA, and that the " flood " did aot come until half m hour after 

 the shock had occurred, indicate that this wave had its origin elsewhere, 

 and that there is no need of snpposingj as in accountmg for tlie great 

 wave of 1S52, that any part of the group was raised or depreivae<3. 

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