But the part of the island that remained had been
somewhat increased in size by ejected materials.
Of the other islands and islets some had disappeared; some were
partially destroyed; some were enlarged by fallen debris, while many
changes had taken place in the depth of the neighboring sea-bed. Two
new islands, Steers and Calmeyer, were formed. The ejected pumice, so
cavernous in structure as to float upon the water, at places formed
great floating islands which covered the sea for miles, and sometimes
rose from four to seven feet above it, proving a serious obstacle
to navigation. On vessels near by dust fell to the depth of eighteen
inches. The enormous clouds of volcanic dust which had been flung high
into the air darkened the sky for a great area around. At Batavia, about
a hundred miles from the volcano, it produced an effect not unlike that
of a London fog. This began about seven in the morning of August 27th.
Soon after ten the light had become lurid and yellow, and lamps were
required in the houses; then came a downfall of rain, mingled with dust,
and by about half-past eleven the town was in complete darkness. It
soon after began to lighten, and the rain to diminish, and about three
o'clock it had ceased.
At Buitenzorg, twenty miles further away, the conditions were similar,
but lasted for a shorter time. In places much farther away the upper sky
presented a strangely murky aspect, and the sun assumed a green color.
Phenomena of this kind were traced over a broad area of the globe, even
as far as the Hawaiian Islands, while over a yet wider area the sky
after sunset was lit up by after-glows of extraordinary beauty.
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