In Two Days More We Reached The
Volcanic Group Of Banda, Covered With An Unusually Dense And
Brilliant Green Vegetation, Indicating That We Had Passed Beyond
The Range Of The Hot Dry Winds From The Plains Of Central
Australia.
Banda is a lovely little spot, its three islands
enclosing a secure harbour from whence no outlet is visible, and
with water so transparent, that living corals and even the
minutest objects are plainly seen on the volcanic sand at a depth
of seven or eight fathoms.
The ever smoking volcano rears its
bare cone on one side, while the two larger islands are clothed
with vegetation to the summit of the hills.
Going on shore, I walked up a pretty path which leads to the
highest point of the island on which the town is situated, where
there is a telegraph station and a magnificent view. Below lies
the little town, with its neat red-tiled white houses and the
thatched cottages of the natives, bounded on one side by the old
Portuguese fort. Beyond, about half a mile distant, lies the
larger island in the shape of a horseshoe, formed of a range of
abrupt hills covered with fine forest and nutmeg gardens; while
close opposite the town is the volcano, forming a nearly perfect
cone, the lower part only covered with a light green bushy
vegetation. On its north side the outline is more uneven, and
there is a slight hollow or chasm about one-fifth of the way
down, from which constantly issue two columns of smoke, as well
as a good deal from the rugged surface around and from some spots
nearer the summit.
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