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TERNATE 248
APPENDICES
after nine o’clock [p. 339] and the noise diminished. The whole night long, however, a large
quantity of smoke and columns of ash kept coming from the mountain, while, at intervals, a
rumbling noise could be heard, although not as loud as before.
Monday, February 3. Like last night, this morning the mountain again spewed forth
massive columns of smoke and ash with an intermittent thundering noise, which increased
again for half an hour at about twelve o’clock.
According to the first reports which have come in, the eruption has not caused any
loss of life, which can be attributed to the fact that the people had time to flee from the
mountain before the lava came down. It was also a fortunate coincidence that the stream of
lava fell into a ravine, so that it was closed in and could not spread; otherwise, by taking a
new course, it could have ravaged the land. Because of the strong northwesterly wind, the
northeastern side of Ternate as far as the lower part of the mountain was not troubled by
the stones and ash, but the southeastern and eastern parts were much affected. In these
areas, stones and ash came down in such quantity that all the gardens were destroyed, the
crops were ruined, and the natives had to leave their houses, since several roofs collapsed
under the weight of the stones and ash which had fallen onto them. This eruption caused a
lot of damage. According to the information received, the rain of ash also made itself felt on
the island of Tidore.
There was no earthquake felt during this eruption; but from time to time there was
a slight trembling of the earth, as though a carriage were passing.
For the rest of the day the crater continued to emit columns of smoke, with repeated
roars, which slowly lessened during the night.
Tuesday, February 4. This morning the mountain was still and only a small amount
of smoke was being emitted. [p. 340]
felt.
Wednesday, February 5. About ten o’clock this morning, a slight earth tremor was
Tuesday, February 11. Accompanied by the Sultan of Ternate and a few other
gentlemen, I went to the north of Ternate to have a look at the course of the lava flow
caused by the eruption on the 2nd of this month.
Friday, February 14. A slight earth tremor was felt during the night at half past
twelve. It was immediately followed by more jolts, which became increasingly more severe.
They were preceded by a strong subterranean noise, like rolling thunder in the distance.
Since the shocks were vertical, the hanging glass bells did not even move. At half past one
a severe shock occurred, and the ground continued to tremble, so that all the inhabitants
left their homes. The shocks became more and more severe, with the most severe shock
occurring at ten o’clock in the morning. Afterward, there was not a single brick house left
on Ternate that was fit for habitation, either in the Christian or in the Chinese and
Makassarese quarters. The house of the Sultan of Ternate, the house of the commander,
and a few smaller houses can be repaired, but not the church. The few other houses which
did not collapse completely have walls which are damaged or partly collapsed, so that one is
afraid to live in them. They will have to be leveled. Even Fort Oranje, which has been
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