The Islands of Fugo and Magindanao likewise, each contain a burning mountain.'

We know nothing of the volcanos said to exist in Borneo, but it appears that the Andaman Islands, west of Pegu, and north of Sumatra, contain one in activity, called Barren Island, nearly 4000 feet in height, which frequently emits vast columns of smoke, and red hot stones three or four tons in weight.

In Sumatra, Marsden has described four as existing, but the following are all the particulars known concerning

them:

Lava has been seen to flow from a considerable volcano near Priamang, but the only volcano this observert had an opportunity of visiting, opened on the side of a mountain about 20 miles inland of Bencoolen, one fourth way from the top, so far as he could judge. It scarcely ever failed to emit smoke, but the column was only visible for two or three hours in the morning, seldom rising and preserving its form above the upper edge of the hill, which is not of a conical shape, but slopes gradually upwards. He never observed any connexion between the state of the mountain and the earthquake, but it was stated to him, that a few years before his arrival it was remarked to send forth flame during an earthquake, which it does not usually do.

The inhabitants are however alarmed, when these vents all remain tranquil for a considerable time together, as they find by experience, that they then become more liable to earthquakes.

Dr. Jack in a short notice of the Geology of Sumatra, (Geol. Trans. vol. i. p. 398, new series) observes, that the volcanos of this island have somewhat of a different character from those of Java: the former generally terminating at the summit on a ridge or crest; while the latter are more exactly conical, and have for the most part a much broader

* See Colebrooke in the Asiatic Transactions.

+ Marsden's Sumatra, p. 29.

basis. It appears, that the country near Bencoolen before alluded to (between Indapore and Bencoolen) was visited by the order of Raffles in 1818. There is a lake with a cultivated valley to the west, watered by a small river, that descends from a high volcanic mountain called Gunong Api, which is always smoking. The rocks in this neighbourhood are of trap, either compact or amygdaloidal, sometimes tufaceous; the most remarkable hill is called Gunong Bungko, or Sugar Loaf Hill; it is composed of irregular masses of trap.

In crossing the island from Bencoolen to Palembang, we traverse a plain, having in the midst of it the mountain called Gunong Dempo, which is the highest in the island, being 12,000 feet above the level of the sea. It is almost always emitting smoke. Hot springs and other volcanic phænomena are common in the neighbourhood. Basalt and trap compose the range of hills between Bencoolen and Cawoor.

The basis of Sumatra is however, in all probability, primitive: Granite being found near Menang Kabau, and at Ayer Bangy. Much limestone derived from Coral Reefs likewise occurs.

Very different to this is the structure of Java, where the researches of Dr. Horsfield* have made known to us one of the most extended tracts of volcanic formations that perhaps any where exist.-An uninterrupted series of large mountains, varying in elevation from 5 to 11 and even 12,000 feet, and exhibiting by their round or pointed tops, their volcanic origin, extend through the whole of the island. The several large mountains composed in this series, in number 38, though different from each other in external figure, agree in the general attribute of volcanos, having a broad base gradually verging towards the summit in the form of a cone.

* See his remarks, as inserted in 8ir Stamford Raffles' History of Java.

They all rise from a plain but little elevated above the level of the sea, and each must, with very few, exceptions, be considered as a separate mountain, raised by a cause independent of that which produced the others. Most of these have been formed at a very remote period, and are covered by the vegetation of many ages: but the indications and remains of their former eruptions are numerous and unequivocal. The craters of several are completely extinct those of others contain small apertures, which continually discharge sulphureous vapours and smoke. Many of them have had eruptions during late years. Almost all the mountains or volcanos in the large series before noticed, are found on examination to have the same general constitution; they are striped vertically by sharp ridges, which, as they approach the foot of the mountain, take a more winding course. These ridges alternate with valleys, whose sides are of a 'very various declivity.

Large blocks of basalt occasionally project, and in several instances the vallies form the beds of rivers towards the tops of the volcanos; in the rainy season they all convey large volumes of water.

There are also various ridges of smaller mountains, which, though evidently volcanic, may be termed secondary, as they appear to have originated from the primary volcanos before noticed. They generally extend in long narrow stripes, with but a moderate elevation, and their sides are less regularly composed of the vertical ridges above mentioned. In most cases, a stratified structure and submarine origin may be discovered. They are generally covered with large rocks of basalt; and in some cases, they consist of wacke and hornblende, which is found along their base in immense piles.

Hills of a mixed nature, partly calcareous, partly volcanic are also found. The southern coast of the island consists almost entirely of them, rising in many places to the perpendicular height of 80 or 100 feet, and sometimes much higher. These, as they branch inward, and approach the

central or higher districts, gradually disappear, and give place to the volcanic series, or alternate with huge masses of basaltic hornblende that appear to assume a regular stratification.

A Dutch writer has since communicated some further particulars respecting these basaltic rocks. He informs us that almost all the lofty summits of this basaltic chain are truncated cones; that they consist in general of irregular columns, presenting every variety in point of length, thickness, direction, and other circumstances. They are sometimes placed immediately one on the other, sometimes divided by beds of a different material. This arrangement is only exposed in a few places where the streams have laid bare the strata. The action of the elements, assisted perhaps by that of sulphureous vapours, has effected a great destruction of the rock, large masses of which are washed down into the plains after heavy showers. The basalt is of two qualities,-1st, that composing the lower mountains, which is less compact and porphyritic, but contains large concretions of felspar, quartz? crystallized hornblende, and olivine; 2dly, that constituting the loftier ranges, which is more compact and uniform in structure, and is so impregnated with iron, as to attract the magnetic needle, and even to be obedient to its influence.

With regard to the modern lavas of Java, having been favoured with a sight of the specimens brought by Dr. Horsfield himself from the island, and now at the India House, I may remark that they struck me as being very similar to those of Vesuvius, and in several instances appeared to contain much leucite. I observed several specimens of pitchstone, which I was assured constituted dykes. It is much to be wished, that so interesting a suite were properly arranged, and made a part of some public and general collection of volcanic products.

Dr. Horsfield has related an effect of volcanic action in

* Reinweldt in the Batavian Transactions, published at Batavia in 1823.

this island, which for its extent, seems to exceed almost any that has been hitherto noticed.

The Papandayang, situated on the south western part of the island, was formerly one of the largest volcanos, but the greater part of it was swallowed up in the earth, after a short but severe combustion in the year 1772. The account which has remained of this event asserts, that near midnight, between the 11th and 12th of August, there was observed about the mountain an uncommonly luminous cloud, by which it appeared to be completely enveloped. The inhabitants, as well about the foot, as on the declivities of the mountain, alarmed by the appearance, betook themselves to flight; but before they could all save themselves, the mountain began to give way, and the greatest part of it actually fell in, and disappeared in the earth. At the same time a tremendous noise was heard, resembling the discharge of the heaviest cannon. Immense quantities of volcanic substances, which were thrown out at the same time and spread in every direction, propagated the effects of the explosion through the space of many miles.

It is estimated, that an extent of ground, of the mountain itself, and its immediate environs, fifteen miles long and six broad, was by this commotion swallowed up in the bowels of the earth. Several persons, sent to examine the condition of the neighbourhood, made report, that they found it impossible to approach the mountain, on account of the heat of the substances which covered its circumference, and which were piled on each other to the height of three feet, although this was the 24th of September, and thus full six weeks after the catastrophe. It is also mentioned that forty villages, partly swallowed up by the ground, and partly covered by the substances thrown out, were destroyed on this occasion, and that 2,957 of the inhabitants perished.

The mountain of Galoen-gong, which had never been reckoned among the volcanos of the island, broke out with