The countdown to the final hors of the mountains existence properly began at six minutes past one in the afternoon
on Sunday. The eruption took place on the next day (Monday, 27 August 1883). All across the colony, Dutchmen and Javanese
alike were looking innocently forward to the long lazy stretch of the afternoon of a much needed day of rest.
~ The local people lived in kampongs of small thatched cottages, the colonials in neat white stucco houses
with red roofs.
~ All accounts say that on this particular Sunday any feelings of antipathy were soothed and muted by the
holdiay mood. People smiled at one another, Dutchman muttered cordial greetings to Javan, everyone sauntered contentedly along
in the broad heat of the early afternoon.
~ And then, without warning, from out to sea in the west ---- a sudden sound.
