The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1884-01-05

Desolated Java.
OF THE COUNTRY AFTER
TIE GREAT VOLCANIC ERUPTION.

APPEARANCE eF THE COUNTRY AFTER
TIE GREAT VOLCANIC ERUPTION.
A correspondent from Java, who
traversed the country soon after the
recent volcanic eruption, describes the
desolated region as follows: "For
| miles there was not tree standing,
and were formerly where numerous
campongs (native villages surrounded
by paddy fields and coceanut grovss)
there was nothing but wilderness
more resembling the bottom of tbs
sea than anything else j; rocks of coral
stones and sea shells strewn every
where. Some of these solid masses of
coral lying miles inward could not
be less than one hundred tons
weight. Arriving at Merak the
path was strewn with pieces of iron,
while here and there were portions of
the bedding and furniture of the houses
of the Europeans. We were informed
officially that the number Of bodies
buried iu the district we came through
was 2700. The volcanic wave, must
in my opinion, have been even higher
than the general estimate Of 100 feet,
and base my opinion upon the fact
that the official height of the small
hill of Merak is 35 metres, lis feet,
while the wave which swept away the
houses must Of course have been still
higher than the top of the hill, and
this additional height estimate to be
30 feet. On the top of the hill at
Merak the whole community of work
men took refuge when the first wave
came at 6 a. NJ, and fancying them
selves safe there they returned again,
when the second and much higher
wave at a. N. came and swept them
all away.
"Our next point was to get back to
Kahars and make for ABger. We soon
again came to the trace of destruction,
the sea here having entered a long val
ley just below Tjilegon, as far as six
miles inland, forming a great lagoon.
Proceeding further on the road from
Tjilegon to Anger, we came to the old
post-station of Tjiadieng, not enc stene
of it remaining, building, men and
horses, having been carried away.
Pushing on, we found the road very
we'll repaired till within three miles
OF Anger, and altogether, the energy
displayed everywhere by the govern
ment is beyond all praise. Hundreds
of people were at werk in all direc-
tions making roads, clearing away
trees, burning rubbish, and strewing
the ashes on the sea swept sell, in the
hope of future improvement. Every
where, in fact, there were activity and
energy, and where our road ended
and we had to walk there were rows
frice carts and the grain was being
given out BY native officers to the va
rious headmen for distribution in their
villages. The appearance of the
country was even more wrGtched than
before, and from the hill on the Anjer
shore, looking northeast TO Merak,
II miles distant, and inland to the
foot of the hills, four to five miles, this
wedge-like plain of an area of about
40 square miles is one vast scene of
desolation, being completely swept
from end to end, and not one house or
tree to be seen. Many thousands were
lost here.
Getting around this hill we came at
once into the valley of Anjer, semi
circle of four miles from point to point,
and extending two miles inland, with
fine range of hills closing all in.
In the centre of this plateau, and
fronting the sea, was originally situ-
ated the town of Anjer, but from where
we stood, on first turning the corner of
the path, there was nothing to be seen
but lageons, with here and there great
powders cast about, and not vestige
of house. We proceeded, how
ever, and at length came upon the site
of the town and fort. OF the fort there
is almost nothing left, great blocks of
masonry being cast inland; of the town,
still less, for not one stone is to be seen
above another. Mr.. Schmidt, who
lost seven of his relations, went to
look for his house, but could not find
a trace of it, aud after time he con-
cluded that the river, which formerly
formed the creek, had changed it's
course and was flowing over the spot
where his house and that of the assist
ant Resident had once stood There
was not even ruin, everything hav-
ing been razed to the ground, and it
was difficult to realize that the town
of Anjer had ever existed.