186 CONNEXION OP EARTHaUAKES WITH 
enveloped in an atmosphere, tlie “ palpable 
which it was unable to penetrate ; showers rf 
covered the houses, the streets, and the fields, to ‘ jo#- 
of several inches ; and, amid this darkness, ofj 
were heard at intervals, like the report of artilleO’jjji 
noise of distant thunder. Every one conceivedj / 
effects experienced might be caused by eruptions , 
of the numerous volcanoes on the island ; bu 
could have conjectured, that the shower of asn^ 
darkened the air, and covered the ground of 1"“^ yii' 
districts of Java, could have proceeded from a rno 
Sumbawa, at the distance of several hundred 
The first explosions were heard at Java, on . 
of the 5tli of April, and continued until the j if 
day, when the sun became obscured, and appe*^ 
cnvdopcd in a fog. The weatlier was sultry }■ 
phere close ; and the pressure of the latter, ad>- I 
general stillness, seemed to forbode an earthqua^ 
lasted for several days, tlie explosions continuioy ^1' 
widi so. much violence as at first. On the even'^^^^ |C, 
10th, the eruptions, however, were more loud 
frequent j ashes fell in abundance j the sun was a 
.scured ; and in several parts of the island a 
MOTION OF THE EARTH W3S felt. Oil tllC h' 
the explosions weie so tremendous as to shake , 
perceptibly in the more eastern districts. 
In the Island of Sumbawa itself, there was 
of lives, and the surviving inhabitants were 
treme misery. It appears from tlie account of “ 
wlio was a spectator of the eruption, that on t‘‘ 
of the 10th of April, three distinct columns o‘ 
apparently within the verge of the crater of 
mountain, burst forth, and, after ascending _ s^l’y|)i; a’ 
very great height, united their tops in the air. 
of the mountain now appeared like a body o* 
extending itself in every direction. Stones 3”'’ /lu#' * 
precipitated ; and a whirlwind ensued, which ; 
the greater part of the houses in an adjoining ' 
tore up by the roots the largest trees, and caniv^ ^|if . 
the air, together with men, horses, cattle, 
came within its influence. The sea rose nearly 
higher than usual,— a phenomenon commonly 
