I'm researching a natural history documentary film on the volcanoes of Indonesia (particularly Krakatau and Mt Bromo), so I'm curious to know of any myths that may be associated with the volcanoes and the animals, plants, and people that live around them. I'd be grateful if you could suggest any myths that you know of, or for a recommendation of written sources which I could peruse. Many thanks

Mitchell

Dear Mitchell,

The first item that comes to mind is a video called Fire on the Rim. It was originally a PBS series on cultures on the Pacific Rim. Lots of good stuff about how people live with/view volcanoes, including people in Bali. The video may be at your local (big) video store or contact Ambrose Video Publishing Co., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2245, New York, NY 10104.

I looked through Simkin and Fiske's Krakatau 1883 text and found only the following:

Blong, R.J., 1982, The time of darkness: Local legends and volcanic reality in Papua New Guinea: Canberra, Australian National University Press, and Seattle, University of Washington Press, 257 p.

Sorry I can't be more help.

Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota

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