The darkness remained the same until the following morning at 4 a.m. At daybreak, began to get the chain clear and weigh the anchor; got under steam at 6:30 a.m.; made out then Tims Island, bearing S by W [191degrees], and Pulo Soengal Island, bearing SW1/2W [230 degrees]. Held on our course for Pulo Tiga Island and fell in with much ash and driftwood.

When we got about two miles off Pulo Tiga, it appeared that a connection had been formed between the islands just mentioned stretching to Seboekoe Island, and thence to the mainland. Whether this connection was formed out of solid ground or only out of pumice stone and trunks of trees is not known. What is certain is, that at the distance at which it then lay, it looked exceedingly like solid ground, and so we thereupon turned back in order to look for another passage.

The very same phenomenon as had revealed itself near Pulo Tiga was discovered also between Tims Island, Seboekoe and Pulo Soenchal, and we, therefore, resolved to make our way out through the Strait of Lagoendie. This channel we found relatively clear, that is, in comparison with the other part of the bay.

Having got outside we discovered that here also we were entirely shut in; so steamed very slowly, stopping every now and then close by the so-called layer, and made it out at last to be floating pumice stone, through noticing that the layer was heaved up and down by the motion of the surf.

Now steamed somewhat faster, and when we got into the middle of the layer before referred to, found it to be 7 or 8 feet thick. It took us 10 minutes to get clear of it, and then we held our course south of Krakatau, the serang being in the fore-yard, a man on the look out forward, and the captain and first mate on the bridge.

As we steamed past Krakatau we noticed the middle of the island, and that no smoke was to be seen in any direction. However, when we got east of Krakatau, we discovered that between that island and Sebesie, a reef had formed, and that various craters planted on that reef were now and then sending columns of smoke on high. As we neared the coast of Java we observed that here, too, everything had been left desolate.

We also perceived that the lighthouse on Java's Fourth Point was entirely washed away; nothing remained except a stump some feet high.

At 4 o'clock reached Anjer roadstead, and although there was nothing more to be seen of the place itself, the captain and the first engineer went ashore to learn what information was to be obtained.

Ashore we met the resident of Bantam, and concluded to return straight on board in order to convey his honor to the roadstead of Bantam, and this because the resident assured us that it was of very great importance in the public interest that should be done.

We left Anjer Roads at 10 minutes to 5 o'clock, steamed around St. Nicholas' Point, and went on taking our bearings for the island of Pulo Pundjang, and steering into Bantam Bay.

We arrived at our destination at 6:50 p.m.; by request of the resident, put him on board a ship which lay in the roads there, and after having done this, at 7:30, we got under steam again and made for Kroe.