'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎143] (276/458)

sngal,
^canoes inttietl
group of islands, i
ibawa, Bali, Jw,i
i altogether foni
volcanic zone iscJ
in the Bay otB^,
coast of Amcai,!
more/ ,# Thekil
m, but extends ill
d Barren Island, 1
tion is that of life
jras in a state of#
t, and he
jurvey of the
the level of*
et nearly.
Buchasl* 811 '
. en Island, i 11 **]
iamepho” 0 ®!!
If
true
it dowaa sa
BAY OF BENGAL—.BARREN ISLAND. *^3
of ancient craters, of elevation, as contrasted with modern craters of
eruption) “ and here, it is said, we have the advantage of being able
t0 contrast the ancient crater of elevation with the cone and crater of
eruption and its centre. ^ r hen seen from the ocean this island presents
on almost all sides a surface of bare rocks, which rise up with a
moderate declivity towards the interior : but at one point there is a
narrow cleft, by which xve can penetrate into the centre and there
discover that it is occupied by a great circular basin, filled by the
waters of the sea, bounded all round by steep rocks, in the midst
of which rises a volcanic cone, very frequently a source of eruption.
The summit of this cone is 1690 French feet in height, corresponding
to that of the circular border which encircles the basin, so that it can
onlv be seen from the sea through the ravines.”*
Barren Island was visited by Dr. John Adam in 1831. The water
close in shore was then hot and steamy, while steam and smoke issued
from the crater, but no lava or flame. He estimates the diameter of the
base at about 800 or 1000 yards, and the orifice of the crater, which
occupies the entire summit of the cone, at about 30.f The latest
description that has been published of Barren Island is that of Captain
Miller, who visited it in 18344 His account of it is the same in
its general features as that of Lyell, but he estimates the altitude of
the cone at no higher than 500 feet ; and considering the limited
distance to which it is visible at sea, this seems to be more correct
than the other estimates. He sets down the slope of the cone at 45,
which would give an altitude of above 1,000 feet, were Dr. Adam
correct as to the diameter of the base. He states that it could
only be ascended by climbing, and it is probable that Captain Blair’s
assumption of 32.17, which was determined by measurement, may be
near the truth. The volcano, like the others along the bay, is chiefly
active during the S. W. monsoon.
Next to Barren Island is the volcanic island of Narcandam, lat.
13° 22 / . The cone is about 800 feet high, no soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. are to be had
within half a mile of the shore.§ Crossing over to the other side of the * * * §
* Element, 1830, vol. i. p. 39o.—This seems to be taken from Capt. Blair’s estimate of
1800, sinee upset, as already stated, by Captain Miller, Dr Adam, and others.
t Bengal Asiatic Transactions, 1832, vol. i.
I Calcutta Journal of Nat. Hist., 1843, vol. iii.
§ Report of Calcutta Coal Committee, 1839.