The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-09-21
A LAND OF VOLCANOES.
ERUPrIoNs WHICH HAVE CHANGED
THE FACE OF NATURE.
Jaw and It's Fiery Mountains Desert ed---
y fictnresaue Region subject to Terri-
Vie 'lsiintions---UphcnvnIs Of the Past.

picturesque Region subject to Terri-
pie ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of the Past.
The straits of Sunda, whose con-
formation has been so completely and
destructively altered by the recent vol
canlc CONFUSION, 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
a sprlnkled 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 a
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 Dut n and other
Europeans with China, India and
Japan was transferred to the straits
OF Malacca, which present a smoother
bottom and a deeper channel, Willie
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-
ton of pepper. Adjoining it upon the
east is the more populous and fertile
province of Batavia. These two de-
Tendencies, al well as the whole island,
are dotted with volcanoes. The vol
canoes OF both provinces have eve
been celebrated for their continuous
and destructive eruptions, and it is
said 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 CHI 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 atty is picturesque. The
adjacent shores Of Bantam present a
bold, sharpcut outline of high noun
tains, While the sea :hore is fringed with
palm trees.
The recent loss of life, though great,
does not exceed that upon a number of
previous occasions. In 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 10000
persons persisted in the immense lake of
lava which spread over the country for
miles. The mountain blew up with a
terrible noise, and a 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
the sea, a distance of several miles.
In 1862 the mountain was again blown
up, and all of the inhabitants within a
radius of six miles were DESTROYED.
IhDrn have hnln a nnnnhnr Of III
astrous eruption3 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 a
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 a light yellow color. They are
superstitious and exist in a social COM
munity governed by a multitude of
regulations and ob~servantes 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
eruptions begins at Java headland,
the southwestern cape of Java, jutting
out into the lower region of the Sunda
straits, and directly traverses the en-
tire length of the island, 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-
tons, with consequent extensive loss
of life and property.
The general conformation Of the
populous agricultural districts of
Bantam and batavia is similar to that
of Japan. The wealthy trave! by post
horses. The great bulk of the popula-
ton live in the eastern provinces, and
II g.. a.,,lANsa II D. -