I 10 
FROM TORRES STRAIT TO H0NG-K0NG. 
absorbed. There were appearances of the previous formation of other waterspouts from the 
same cloud, which had commenced to disappear before our attention was attracted to this 
part of the horizon. The portion of the sea rising' towards the waterspout had not the solid, 
sharply-defined outline of the latter, but looked more like a conical mass of waves or spray. 
Bird Island, which lay to the southward of our track, rises from the sea in the shape 
of a steep hill, and, judging from this day’s sounding, it must be the summit of a high 
mountain, probably of volcanic origin. On gaining a view of the western side of the 
island, a tall column of white smoke or steam was seen to rise from the southern slope, but, 
as there was no appearance of a crater, it remained doubtful whether this betokened the 
presence of an active volcano, or simply indicated a bush fire. However, we were soon to 
be gratified by the sight of a volcano whose fires are not yet extinct, for at daybreak on 
the 29th the low group of the Banda Islands, with its “ smoking mountain,” rose above 
the horizon. 
THE BANDA ISLANDS. 
The six islands which compose the group, and of which Groot Banda is the largest, 
are ranged in oval shape, the widest opening being towards the north, and seem to be the 
remnants of an ancient volcano whose crater now forms the harbour of Banda, the present 
volcano rising to a height of about 1500 feet from the rim of the earlier crater. Gounong 
THE BANDA ISLANDS AND THE VOLCANO “ GOUNONG API.” 
Api is an almost perfect cone, wooded on its eastern slope, but quite bare towards the west. 
Its ascent and descent were accomplished by some of the officers from the “Challenger” 
in the short space of three hours. The summit showed traces of several craters which 
had opened at different times to pour a torrent of lava into the sea. On the north side, 
some distance below the summit, we observed a large hole scooped, as it were, out of the 
slope of the mountain, and from the centre of this depression rose a conical peak emitting 
smoke or steam. 
Stad Neira, off which we anchored in the afternoon of the 29th, lies half hidden 
among trees on the western side of Banda Harbour. It is protected by two large forts, 
