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VISIT TO THE TANKOEBAN PRAHOE IN JAVA, 
After the eruption of the 27th. May, 1840. 
By Dr. Bleeker.* 
Since 1829, no unusual commotion had been perceptible in the 
crater of the Tankoeban Prahoe. On the 27th of May, however, 
another eruption consisting of ashes and mud from the Kawa Ratoe 
took place, accompanied, according to the testimony of the inhabi¬ 
tants of the districts Segala Herang and Batoe Sirap, with slight 
earthquakes. This eruption continued longer than a night, and thus 
the rising of the vapour from the Kawa Ratoe or principal crater, 
most have been more remarkable than before this recent explosion. 
When at Tengeragong in the district of Segala Herang we perceiv¬ 
ed from the country house of Mr. Holland those vapours rising, the 
intention previously formed at Wanayassa of visiting the crater was 
immediately determined on. On Wednesday the 10th of June, exactly 
a fortnight after the eruption, Dr. Bosch, chief physician, Mr. Holland 
and the undersigned commenced the journey to the mountain, taking 
the road by Panaroebon and Tjatter. From Tjatter, a “ kampong” 
on the north declivity of the Tankoeban Prahoe with 880 inhabitants 
and a great coffee establishment, 3600’ above the sea, we proceeded 
against a rather steep mountain side through the middle of extend¬ 
ed coffee plantations which encircle the mountain for above 4000*. 
New clearances higher up the mountain have been made for the cul¬ 
tivation of the coffee plant. Having passed these we entered the 
primeval forest of the regia montana. Of the low kinds of vegeta¬ 
tion nothing is perceptible as the interval between Tengarong (1900* 
above the level of the sea) and the borders of the coffee plantations 
is cultivated with rice, tea and coffee. 
Nothing probably demonstrates more the majesty of nature than 
a primeval forest of J ava’s c< regio montana.” As soon as the agri¬ 
cultural borders of this part of the Tankoeban Prahoe are past, you 
* This article has been translated from the Tijdschriftvoor Neerlands 
Indie by Dr. Minter of H. M. SteamShip “ jffedea”, to whom we re¬ 
turn our best thanks for his kindness. Ep. 
