The History of Java, v. 1-2Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir
History
The History of Java, v. 1-2
Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir
Java (Indonesia) -- History
"This stream of lava is bounded on the north by another, of the
same nature and disposition, thrown out of the mountain (according
to an estimate made from the commencement and progress of
vegetation upon it) about thirty years ago. In its course along
the sides of the mountain it forms the same pointed ridges above
described. It affords a plain demonstration of the manner in which
the surface of lava is decomposed and rendered fit for vegetation.
A third district of lava bounds the new stream first described in
the south: it is more extensive than the others, and consists of
several distinct regions, probably thrown out during one eruption
(which appears to have been more violent than the others), but in
successive periods shortly following each other. It extends farther
to the eastward than the others, and covers a great portion of the
foot of the mountain. Vegetation has already made considerable
progress upon it: in the vallies between the separate streams of
lava are found not only plants but also small shrubs. At one place,
near the termination of this stream, the lava is piled up in two
irregular ridges to the height of twenty feet; and at a small
distance from its eastern extremity, in a spot which has escaped
the effects of the later eruptions, and is covered by pleasant
wood, are three different hot wells, within the circumference of a
quarter of a mile. In the south, this district of lava is bounded
by a recent stream, which appears to have been thrown out in 1800,
by the same eruption which produced the first mentioned stream. It
differs from the others only in the colour of its lava, which has
a reddish hue: it is less considerable in extent than any of the
others, and cannot be traced far from the foot of the mountain. The
fifth stream of lava which I examined is still farther towards the
south, and is one of the oldest which have been discharged from
the eastern part of the crater. Near the foot of the mountain,
vegetation has made greater progress than in any of the other
districts of lava.
"The colour of the recent lava of this mountain is jet-black or
grey: one of the streams only has a reddish colour. Its texture is
very loose, and its fracture very porous. The smaller fragments
have much the appearance of the scoriæ of a blacksmith's forge: on
being thrown against each other, they emit a sound like two bricks
coming into contact. The interior crater of this mountain, as it
has remained after the eruption of 1800, is less interesting than
the others which I have examined. Its shape is somewhat oval, the
greatest diameter being about one hundred yards: its depth is not
very considerable. Its structure, in general, is similar to that of
_Tankuban-prahu_. It has one remaining aperture, which discharges
with great force hot sulphureous vapours."
_Batavian Transactions_, vol. ix.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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