M. Stones at this time fell very thick at Sang'ir--some
of them as large as two fists, but generally not larger than walnuts.
Between 9 and 10 P. M. ashes began to fall, and soon after a violent
whirlwind ensued, which blew down nearly every house in the village of
Sang'ir--carrying the roofs and light parts away with it. In the port of
Sang'ir, adjoining Tomboro, its effects were much more violent--tearing
up by the roots the largest trees, and carrying them into the air,
together with men, horses, cattle, and whatever else came within its
influence. This will account for the immense number of floating trees
seen at sea. The sea rose nearly twelve feet higher than it had ever
been known to do before, and completely spoiled the only spots of
rice-land in Sang'ir--sweeping away houses and everything within its
reach. The whirlwind lasted about an hour. No explosions were heard
till the whirlwind had ceased, at about 11 P.M. From midnight till the
evening of the 11th, they continued without intermission. After that
time their violence moderated, and they were heard only at intervals;
but the explosions did not cease entirely until the 15th of July. Of all
the villages of Tomboro, Tempo, containing about forty inhabitants,
is the only one remaining. In Pekate no vestige of a house is left;
twenty-six of the people, who were at Sumbawa at the time, are the whole
of the population who have escaped. From the most particular inquiries
I have been able to make, there were certainly no fewer than 12,000
individuals in Tomboro and Pekate at the time of the eruption, of whom
only five or six survive.
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