The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-23
SOUTH PACIFIC VOLCANOES
The Most Destructive and Terrible of
Any IN the World.


The bay of Naples and Sicily are small
and Insignificant volcano districts beside
the northern peninsula of the island of
Celebes, just to the east OF Borneo, in the
South Pacific Ocean. Nesuvius and ELna
are OF little moment in comparison with
the volcano chain that studs this island
region, flanked by its hills ana heaps OF
lava and ashes. One or the other OF the
volcanoes in this great chain IS contlnu-
ally belching forth, throwing up, if not
streams of lava and great stones, then
fluid clay that is blue, gray and red.
The Donda, 5000 feet in hight, and the
Sapoetan, 5000 feet high, are the two
great volcanoes OF the district, and each
of them has been in eruption several
times during the past century. w ere it
not q sparsely settled country the loss of
life would be terrible there. But there is
no Pompeii TO be destroyed. The inhabi-
tants, wild and savage natives. live far
away from the volcanoes and quite out OF
the reach of their torrents.
klabat, or Two Summits," another
terrible volcano, is marked by great
lake in its crater, and not far away Is the
DoeWa Soedara, or Two Sisters" still
another is the Lakon, which local tradi-
ton says is inhabited by an evil spirit,
and from which there came fearful erup-
ton 500 years ago, which devastated the
entire district.
All the islands around this northern
end of Celebes are volcanic. The archi-
pelago that runs up to the Philippine Is
lands, to the north, is dotted with active
mouths Of fire, important among which
is the superb pyramidal volcano Aboe
(which, being translated, means "ashes") ),
and Gunova AVA, which in all proba-
bility has been the most destructive vol
cano the world has ever known.
Thousands OF the inhabitants of Cele-
bes, in 1872, in 1856 ana in 1871, were
buried beneath the streams OF hot ashes
and lava that came in molten sheets ana
utterly overwhelmed them. All these is
lands are nevertheless paradise in the
luxuriance OF their vegetation and the
multiplicity OF their animal life. In them
the virgin forests have never felt the
touch OF the ax.
Holland owns these islands now, hav-
ing made provinces OF them as soon as
she gained foOthold in the far East. OF
Malay and Aliooroos race are the people,
the more civilized population OF the coast
being Malay, the savage tribes of the in
terror Alfooroos. There are many tribes
In Celebes, some OF Philippine origin,
others OF Papuan. The Bougis tribe is
yet another of the dominant population,
savages strong and skillful and without
the possibility OF civilization in them.
These fellows the Dutch Government
have essayed TO train as soldiers, because
of their strength and power OF legs and
arms, but the attempt proved unsuccess-
ful because of the Bougis' disposition 30
run amuck" whenever exc cited by drink
or gambling. When in that state they
become wild and frenZied, and stab, hit
and thrust until they are knocked down
and bound. The only way the Dutch po-
licemen of Celsbes can capture them is
by using a sort OF fork which keeps the
madmau at d distance. 1t takes two or
more policemen TO capture single
Bougis.-New York World.