The first known event in the history of the island volcano was an
eruption in the year 1680. After that it lay in repose, forming a group
of islands, one much larger than the others. Some of the smaller islands
indicated the rim of the old crater, much of which was buried under the
sea. Its state of quiescence continued for two centuries, a tropical
vegetation richly mantled the island, and to all appearance it had sunk
permanently to rest.
Indications of a coming change appeared in 1880, in the form of
earthquakes, which shook all the region around. These continued at
intervals for more that two years. Then, on May 20, 1883, there were
heard at Batavia, a hundred miles away, "booming sounds like the firing
of artillery." Next day the captain of a vessel passing through the
Straits saw that Krakatoa was in eruption, sending up clouds of smoke
and showers of dust and pumice. The smoke was estimated to reach a
height of seven miles, while the volcanic dust drifted to localities 300
miles away.
AWFUL PREMONITIONS
The mountain continued to play for about fourteen weeks with varying
activity, several parties meanwhile visiting it and making observations.
Such an eruption, in ordinary cases, would have ultimately died away,
with no marked change other than perhaps the ejection of a stream of
lava. But such was not now the case. The sequel was at once unexpected
and terrible. As the island was uninhabited, no one actually saw what
took place, those nearest to the scene of the eruption having enough
to do to save their own lives, while the dense clouds of vapor and dust
baffled observation.
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