The population went into severe decline in the 1870s , possibly from disease . The Dutch sent medical officers to investigate . Since the island 's highest point is only above sea level , it would have been severely affected by the tsunami associated with the Krakatoa eruption in 1883 , as well as by the massive volcanic debris . The indigenous population never recovered and numbered only about 400 souls in the early 1960s . Therefore , the Indonesian government uses the island for rehabilitation of juvenile offenders from Java , who perform forced labor , clearing bush and constructing rice fields . As noted above , the population has recovered somewhat since that time
Krakatoa eruption in 1883
1883 eruption of Krakatoa
Enggano Island