MEANGIS or Menangus, a group of islands on the S. coast of Mindanao, in about lat. 5° N., and long. 127° 45' E. There are three islands of moderate size, with some smaller ones adjoining ; they lie about 36 or 42 miles N.E. of the Talour Islands. Sangir and tho numerous islands of this group, in the Celebes, occupy a superficies of 13 square leagues; the Tolaut and the Meangis Islands united are 18 square leagues. These archipelagoes, formerly subject to the authority' of the sultans of Ternate, now make part of the larger Dutch Residency of Menado. Several extinct volcanoes, and some still in full action, are found in the Sangir group ; the devastations which they commit from time to time have often been fatal to the inhabitants. The eruption of Duwana, in 1808, completely annihilated the village of Tagalando, destroyed all the surround ing forests, and suddenly deprived the inhabitants of all means of livelihood by the destruction of their fields. The Gunong Api causes numerous
ravages in the island of Siau ; its peak, 6000 feet above the level of the sea, forms the culmin ating point of this group. Gunong Api covers with its brise all the northern part of Sangir-besar. In 1812 torrents of lava from it destroyed the extensive forests of cocoanut trees with which this part of the island was covered, and caused the death of many of the inhabitants. These islands furnish more than 25 kinds of wood suited for building and furniture. Two harbours, sheltered from all winds, exist in the larger Sangir, one in the Bay of Taruna, the other, called Midelu, on the eastern side.—Journ. Ind. Arch., 1850, p. 764 ; Horsburgh.