The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-01-22
From the PoLynesian, 4egust, 1861
SIA.

able varieties of people, [ shall glance at the
physical features of their country, and make
some mention of the products for which it is
famous. | have spoken somewhat superla.
lively, as some think, about the importance
of this great group of insular lands, in claim.
ing that they contribute more to develop the
industry of Europe and America, than al
of Continental Asia. | shall endeavor tc
bring forward what evidence | have, tending
TO sustain the assertion.
| shall first read a few words from an
authoritative source, a report of the 34th
Congress in relation to this region.
The immense wealth of the Archipelago
has been boarded for ages its mild climate
and productive soil have absolved the native
population from the necessity of systematic
labor. The Archipelago contains Iaborers
sufficient, if their labor is i~ntelligently direc.
ted, to put in motion the machinery of a
vast commerce. The soil is extremely fer.
tile, and the vegetation luxuriant. The
group extends in length a distance Of about
$500 miles, and in breadth about 1900
miles. Among the most important islands
are, Borneo, which would make four States
as large as Pennsylvania New Guinea, as
many more and Sumatra, about three oil
that size. The whole area of the islands,
and archepelagan waters, Is equal IN extent
to the surface of the United States and
Territories, and contains a population oil
about 27,000,000 of souls" More recent
information swells the estimate to 80, 900,
000.) The report continues The soil is
extremely fertile, and the vegetation luxuri-
ant. The frequent equatorial showers pre-
serve a perpetual verdure. Rice and Indian
corn are grown here in great abundance. and
e~sculent roots of all kinds are produced.
The coffee plant flourishes better here than
in its native soil. Cotton, of a fine long
staple, is grown with success in Sumatra.
The general productions of these islands are
spices, drugs, gums, fancy and dye woods,
gold, silver, tin, iron, anthony and diamonds.
Coal of excellent quality exists in Sumatra,
and at other points IN the Archipelago in
great quantities, accessible for mining and
removal. The forests of Sumatra are largely
composed OF the gutta-percha, and it is evident
that with an unrestralned commerce, this
valuable gum might be obtained at a cost of
one-eight of its present value in the Ameri-
can markets. Gold has been found in large
flakes, or sheets, in the Island of Celebes.
and the neighboring islands and there are
evidences that the yield of that precious
metal in Celebes might equal, if not surpass,
the production OF the neighboring territory
of Australia. The great UNEMPLOYED Island
of New Guinea has afforded gIimpses of
possessing great mineral and forest wealth,
and at present s~ustains a lucrative native
commerce, to the amount of severa. millions
of rupees, in bird of paradise feathers, tri-
pang and massOry."
| will now glance at the physical features
of the archipelago.
This region presents an aspect of equal
granduer and beauty. Every island has its
mountain chain or peak Every island
towers superbly, and with rich decoration,
above the ocean. Observing the outer band
of islands. beginning with Sumatra, and
passing from Java, and the MoIuccas to
Luzon in the PHILIPPINE, we can behold, in
making the circuit. over fifty lofty volcanic
peaks, about ffty-two great flaming, smok-
ing c~raters, several of which surpass in
terrific display your mighty Mauna Loa.
The crater of the ever raging Tenngger in
Java, is four miles in diameter, but greatest
of all volcanic fires is the devastating Tom
boro on the island Of Sumbawa. One of its
eruptions in April, 1915, surpasses all
others of which we have any record, and in
this place some remarks of an eyewitness
of its effects, the accurate and careful
Crawford, will no doubt be most acceptable.
81 was in charge, he says, "of the pro-
vince of Surabaya, in Java, distant from
Tomboro about 300 miles. The noises
proceeding from the volcano at this dist nee
much resembled at first a distant, but heavy
cannonade, and the illusion was so complete
that the gun boats were ordered out. under
the supposition that d merchantman was
attacked by pirates in the Straits of Madura.
Tho N AacoptIOp rospactipn tho Jotono
tons extended to Yugyakarta, $50 miles
farther west than Surabaya, or in all, $50
miles distant from the volcano, for there my
friend the late Col. Dalton marched out with
his battalion to the relief of a fortress
eighteen miles east Of that place, which he
imagined had been attacked, and had got
half way to it before he was undeceived.
The day after the sounds and shocks of
earthquake which accompanied them were
heard at Surabaya, the ashes began to fall,
and on the third day, up to noon, it was
pitch dark, and for several days after [
all business by candle light. For
several months, indeed, the suns disk was
distinct, nor the atmosphere clear and
bright, as it usually is during the South
East Monsoon. The explosions of the
were heard, and even ashes fell, as
far as Bencoolen. a thousand miles distant
from the volcano; and the same evidence of
the eruption was experienced in the Banda
at a distance, in an easterIy direc-
ton, and against the monsoon, of $50 miles.
The total number of persons supposed to
have lost their lives from the Immediate
effects of the eruption has been reckoned at
twelve thousand, but its indirect effects ex-
tended much farther, for the ashes fell so
thick in Lombock, Bali, and the eastern end
of Java, as to destroy, within a radius of
200 miles, the growing rice crops"
Again. another fearful volcano, of Cagayan
IN the Philippines, which enguIphed a city
than Honolulu, and so completely
that not a vestige of its site remained. In
the Moluccas, the sea moved by earthquake
has rushed on the land, and borne great
ships many miles into the interior, and left
them there, high and dry. So much for the
terrors of Malaysia. But its wide domain
IAN admit of such destructive grandeurs, and
yet leave sufficient amplitude of space,
its swarming millions can reap its
exuberant harvests in peace. Benefcence is
more wonderfully manifest than chasten-