The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-10-24
A LAND OF VOLCANOES.
ERUPTIoTs WHICH HAVE CHANGED
THE FACE OF NATURE.


destructively altered by the recent vol
canic convulsion, lie between Java
and Sumatra, and are the most direct
route of communication which eastern
traders possess with the northern coast
of the former island. Prior to the
recollection of the oldest navigator, an
inscrutable and discreet Providence
had sprinkled volcanoes, extinct and
otherwise, over the bottom of the
straits and of the open, adjacent seas,
as thickly as the holes in the lid of
pepper box. Navigation was, there
fore, in all seasons, subject TO peculiar
dangers, and, many years ago, when
steam navigation came in vogue, the
commerce of the Dutch and other
Europeans with China, India and
Japan was transferred to the straits
Of Malacca, which present smoother
bottom end a deeper channel, while
sailing ships preferred the straits of
Sunda from their width. The value
of the Sunda straits as a marine chan
mel lies in the possession of Java by
the Dutch, who utilized it formerly
for the production of pepper and other
spices, but latterly of coffee, the mar
ket for which berry they monopOlized
for many years before the Ceylon
berry came into competition with it.
The province of Bantam, which has
been reduced to the condition of an
ashy desert, is situated in the extreme
western part of Java and was former
ly given up altogether to the cultiva-
tion of pepper. Adjoining it upon the
east is the more populous and fertile
province of Batavia. These two de-
tendencies, as well as the whole island,
are dotted with volcanoes. The vol
canoes of both provinces have ever
been celebrated for their continuous
and destructive eruptions, and it is
sail that the accumulation of lava
from them formed the original super
structure of the island
The straits of Sunda are so broad
that the shores upon either side are
invisible to the few mariners who sail
through them. The water is of that
deep green color peculiar to the
shallow parts of the Indian ocean.
The channel is subject to variation,
The most prominent islands in the
straits were KrakatoO, which was
obliterated by the convulsion, and
Sibisec, which still stands. The wide
expanse of sea VIII ch divides Java,
Sumatra and Borneo from each other,
is so shallow that ships can anchor
therein out of sight of land the
extreme depth not exceeding forty
fathoms. The scenery in this danger
Gus 10 cality is picturesque. The
adjacent shores of Bantam present a
bold, sharpcut outline of high noun
tains, while the sea horeis fringed with
palm trees.
The recent loss of life, though great,
does not exceed that upon number of
previous occasions. Ia 1772 the great
volcano of Popandayan, in the province
adjoining Batavia, be.ched forth fire
and smoke for three weeks. Forty
villages were destroyed, and 100000
persons perished in the immense lake of
lava which spread over the country for
miles. The mountain blew up with
terrible noise, and lake of muddy
water took its place and exists to this
day. In 1916 the adjacent island Of
Makian of the Molucca group, was
rent in twain and a gorge formed to
tie sea- a distance of several miles.
In 1862 the mountain was again blown
up, and all of the inhabitants within
radius of six miles were destroyed.
There have been a number of dis
astrous eruption5 in Bantam and
Batavia within the last twelve years,
involving a great loss of life. The
island of Java is not larger than Ire
land. 1t is related that in former
times Java, Boil and Sumbawn were
united, and afterward separated by
volcanic earthquake into nine islands,
and that, in the distant future, so goes
the tradition, they will again be united
The inhabitants of Java are dis
tinctively Maylayan. OF short stature,
they are supple, docile and glory in a
skin of light yellow color. They are
superstitious and exist in a social com
munity governed by a multitude of
regulations and obServances unusual
in an oriental country, where the type
Of civilization is not more highly de
veloped than in this case.
The chain of volcanoes which has
given rise to all of the memorable
crupllOuS ptSluS dJ Java hcdulduuS
the southwestern cape of Java, jutting
out into the lower region of the Sunda
straits, and directly y traverses the en-
tire length of the is.and continuing in
the Bali strait, and reappearing in the
other islands of the group. The same
chain is distinctly developed in Japan,
thousands of miles northward, where
there have also been frequent erup-
tions, with consequent extensive loss
Of life and property.
The general conformation of the
populous agricultural districts of
Bantam and i atavia is similar to that
of Japan. The wealthy traye! by post
horses. The great bulk of the popula-
tion live in the eastern provinces, and
the foreign population of Bantam and