nda, between Java and
Sumatra. In size it is insignificant, and had been silent so long that
its volcanic character was almost lost sight of. Of its early history we
know nothing. At some remote time in the past it may have appeared as a
large cone, of some twenty-five miles in circumference at base and not
less than 10,000 feet high. Then, still in unknown times, its cone was
blown away by internal forces, leaving only a shattered and irregular
crater ring. This crater was two or three miles in diameter, while the
highest part of its walls rose only a few hundred feet above the sea.
Later volcanic work built up a number of small cones within the crater,
and still later a new cone, called Rakata, rose on the edge of the old
one to a height of 2,623 feet.

The first known event in the history of the island volcano was an
eruption in the year 1680. After that it lay in repose, forming a group
of islands, one much larger than the others. Some of the smaller islands
indicated the rim of the old crater, much of which was buried under the
sea. Its state of quiescence continued for two centuries, a tropical
vegetation richly mantled the island, and to all appearance it had sunk
permanently to rest.

Indications of a coming change appeared in 1880, in the form of
earthquakes, which shook all the region around. These continued at
intervals for more that two years. Then, on May 20, 1883, there were
heard at Batavia, a hundred miles away, "booming sounds like the firing
of artillery." Next day the captain of a vessel passing through the
Straits saw that Krakatoa was in eruption, sending up clouds of smoke
and showers of dust and pumice. The smoke was estimated to reach a
height of seven miles, while the volcanic dust drifted to localities 300
miles away.

AWFUL PREMONITIONS

The mountain continued to play for about fourteen weeks with varying
activity, several parties meanwhile visiting it and making observations.
Such an eruption, in ordinary cases, would have ultimately died away,
with no marked change other than perhaps the ejection of a stream of
lava. But such was not now the case. The sequel was at once unexpected
and terrible. As the island was uninhabited, no one actually saw what
took place, those nearest to the scene of the eruption having enough
to do to save their own lives, while the dense clouds of vapor and dust
baffled observation.

The phase of greatest violence set in on Sunday, August 26th. Soon after