There is found in these frozen regions a remarkable botanical curiosity, having a certain connexion with volcanoes. The waters of the ocean, all along the borders of the icy barrier, produce in amazing abundance the family of water-plants named Diatomaceae. The Diatoms are so called from their faculty of multiplying themselves indefinitely by splitting into two; and so rapidly is this process performed, that in a month a single diatom may produce a thousand millions. The quantity found in the Antarctic regions is so immense that, between the parallels of 60 degrees and 80 degrees of south latitude, they stain the whole surface of the sea of a pale olive-brown tint. These plants, which are so minute as to be individually invisible, save under the higher powers of the microscope, have the curious property of encrusting themselves with a sheath, or shell, of pure silica. These shells remain after the death of the plant, and are as indestructible as flint. They are marvellous objects, both as respects the elegance of their forms and the beauty of their markings. So great is the accumulation of these shells at the bottom of the sea, that they have formed an immense bank 400 miles in length by 120 in breadth, between the 76th and 78th degrees of south latitude. One portion of this bank rests on the coast at the foot of Mount Erebus. Now, it is remarkable that these microscopic shells of Diatoms are not unfrequently found in the ejections of volcanoes; while it is generally supposed that, in the case of those situated near the sea, eruptions are caused by the formation of explosive steam consequent on the access of sea-water to the reservoirs of molten lava lying underground. The proximity of this Diatomaceous bed to Mount Erebus would easily explain how these minute shells might be found abundant in the fine dust ejected from that volcano. CHAPTER X. Volcanoes of Java--Papandayang--Mountain Ingulfed--Great Destruction of Life and Property--Galoen-gong--Destructive Eruption--Mount Merapia--Great Eruption, with Hurricane--Another, very destructive--Mud Volcano Crater of Tankuban-Prahu--Island of Sumbáwa--Volcano of Tomboro--Terrific Eruption--Timor--A Volcano quenches itself--Cleaving of Mount Machian--Sangir--Destructive Eruption--Bourbon. One of the most marvellous volcanic regions in the world is that composed of the islands of the Malayan Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. They form a chain stretching from east to west, but curving up towards the north at the western extremity. The most easterly of the chain is Timor, the most westerly Sumatra.