Another in 1880 wrought great destruction in Manila and elsewhere,
though without loss of life. An earthquake in Mindanao in 1675 opened a
passage to the sea, and a vast plain emerged. These convulsions of the
earth affect the form and elevation of buildings, which are rarely more
than two stories high and lightly built, while translucent sea-shells
replace glass in their windows.
While Java is the most prolific in volcanoes of the islands of the
Malayan Archipelago, other islands of the group possess active cones,
including Sumatra, Bali, Amboyna, Banda and others. In Sanguir, an
island north of Celebes, is a volcanic mountain from which there was
a destructive eruption in 1856. The country was devastated with lava,
stones and volcanic ashes, ruining a wide district and killing nearly
3,000 of the inhabitants. Mount Madrian in one of the Spice Islands, was
rent in twain by a fierce eruption in 1646, and since then has remained
two distinct mountains. It became active again in 1862, after two
centuries of repose, and caused great loss of life and property.
Sorea, a small island of the same group, forming but a single volcanic
mountain, had an eruption in 1693, the cone crumbling gradually till
a vast crater was formed, filled with liquid lava and occupying nearly
half the island. This lake of fire increased in size by the same process
till in the end it took possession of the island and forced all the
inhabitants to flee to more hospitable shores.
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