families. Several of the people were dug out again, but most of them dead, and
many had their legs or arms broken by the fall of the houses. The castle walls
were rent asunder in several places, and we thought that it and all the houses
would have fallen down. The ground where we were swelled like a wave in the
sea, but near us we had no hurt done." There are also numerous records of
eruptions of a volcano on the west side of the island. In 1674 an eruption
destroyed a village. In 1694 there was another eruption. In 1797 much vapour
and heat was emitted. Other eruptions occurred in 1816 and 1820, and in 1824 a
new crater is said to have been formed. Yet so capricious is the action of these
subterranean fires, that since the last-named epoch all eruptive symptoms have
so completely ceased, that I was assured by many of the most intelligent
European inhabitants of Amboyna, that they had never heard of any such thing
as a volcano on the island.
During the few days that elapsed before I could make arrangements to visit
the interior, I enjoyed myself much in the society of the two doctors, both
amiable and well-educated men, and both enthusiastic entomologists, though
obliged to increase their collections almost entirely by means of native
collectors. Dr. Doleschall studied chiefly the flies and spiders, but also collected
butterflies and moths, and in his boxes I saw grand specimens of the emerald
Ornithoptera priamus and the azure Papilio ulysses, with many more of the
superb butterflies of this rich island. Dr. Mohnike confined himself chiefly to the
beetles, and had formed a magnificent collection during many years residence in
Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Japan, and Amboyna. The Japanese collection was
especially interesting, containing both the fine Carabi of northern countries, and
the gorgeous Buprestidae and Longicorns of the tropics. The doctor made the
voyage to Jeddo by land from Nagasaki, and is well acquainted with the
character, manners, and customs of the people of Japan, and with the geology,
physical features, and natural history of the country. He showed me collections
of cheap woodcuts printed in colours, which are sold at less than a farthing each,
and comprise an endless variety of sketches of Japanese scenery and manners.
Though rude, they are very characteristic, and often exhibit touches of great
humour. He also possesses a large collection of coloured sketches of the plants
of Japan, made by a Japanese lady, which are the most masterly things I have
ever seen. Every stem, twig, and leaf is produced by single touches of the brush,
the character and perspective of very complicated plants being admirably given,
and the articulations of stem and leaves shown in a most scientific manner.
Having made arrangements to stay for three weeks at a small hut on a newly
cleared plantation in the interior of the northern half of the island, I with some