In October, without any warning, a most terrific eruption occurred. A
loud explosion was heard; the earth shook, and immense columns of hot
water, boiling mud mixed with burning brimstone, ashes and stones, were
hurled upwards from the mountain top like a waterspout, and with such
wonderful force that large quantities fell at a distance of forty miles.
Every valley near the mountain became filled with burning torrents;
the rivers, swollen with hot water and mud, overflowed their banks,
and swept away the escaping villagers; and the bodies of cattle, wild
beasts, and birds were carried down the flooded stream.
ERUPTION OF GALUNG GUNG
A space of twenty-four miles between the mountain and a river forty
miles distant was covered to such a depth with blue mud, that people
were buried in their houses, and not a trace of the numerous villages
and plantations was visible. The boiling mud and cinders were cast forth
with such violence from the crater, that while many distant villages
were utterly destroyed and buried, others much nearer the volcano were
scarcely injured; and all this was done in five short hours.
Four days afterwards a second eruption occurred more violent than the
first, and hot water and mud were cast forth with masses of slag like
the rock called basalt some of which fell seven miles off. A violent
earthquake shook the whole district, and the top of the mountain fell
in, and so did one of its sides, leaving a gaping chasm.
Pages:
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330