THE GREAT ERUPTION OF TOMBORO
But of the East Indian Islands Sumbawa, lying east of Java, contains
the most formidable volcano--one indeed scarcely without a rival in the
world. This is named Tomboro. Of its various eruptions the most furious
on record was that of 1815. This, as we are told by Sir Stamford
Raffles, far exceeded in force and duration any of the known outbreaks
of Etna or Vesuvius. The ground trembled and the echoes of its roar
were heard through an area of 1,000 miles around the volcano, and to a
distance of 300 miles its effects were astounding.
In Java, 300 miles away, ashes filled the air so thickly that the solar
rays could not penetrate them, and fell to the depth of several inches.
The detonations were so similar to the reports of artillery as to be
mistaken for them. The Rajah of Sang'ir, who was an eye-witness of the
eruption, thus described it to Sir Stamford:
"About 7 P. M. on the 10th of April, three distinct columns of flame
burst forth near the top of the Tomboro mountain (all of them apparently
within the verge of the crater), and, after ascending separately to a
very great height, their tops united in the air in a troubled, confused
manner. In short time the whole mountain next Sang'ir appeared like a
body of liquid fire, extending itself in every direction. The fire
and columns of flame continued to rage with unabated fury, until the
darkness caused by the quantity of falling matter obscured them, at
about 8 P.
Pages:
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337