688 ON THE VOLCANO OF TAAL, 



to make a geological examination of the central volcanic region 

 of Luzon, which includes a great part of the provinces of La 

 Laguna, Batangas and Tayabas. This is one of the most inter- 

 esting regions in the islands, since it includes the volcanoes 

 of Majajaj, Banajao (over 8,000 ft. above sea level), San Cristobal, 

 Calauang, Maquilin and Taal. All these mountains are, in some 

 sense, either in activity, or, it may be said, smouldering, and give 

 evidence of the fires at no great distance underneath the soil hj 

 boiling springs, solfataras and frequent shocks of earthquake. 

 Besides the mountains above enumerated there are other volcanic 

 cones of less importance. SeSor Cents no has already published 

 his labours on Maquilin as well as on the Yolcano of Taal, and 

 they form together singularly complete accounts of the whole 

 geological history of these interesting localities. In fact they 

 have left very little for any observer to do, but I am not aware that 

 they have ever been laid before the public in the English language. 

 I should mention further, that I had an opportunity of comparing 

 all my own collections with those made by different observers at 

 the Commission of the Forest Flora, where an excellent herbarium 

 has been gathered together by Sefior Vidal y Soler. The minerals 

 I compared at the museum of the Jesuit Fathers at the Athenee 

 Municipale. I take this opportunity of acknowledging the 

 extreme courtesy of Senor Vidal y Soler, and Padre Suarez, S, J., 

 the Curator of the Museum. 



Situation. — The Volcano of Taal is, as already stated, situated 

 in the midst of the Lake of Bombon, whose only outlet to the sea 

 in the Straits of Mindoro is the Biver Pansipit, a small stream 

 scarcely six miles in length, which first flows south-west and then 

 south, disemboguing a little below the town of Taal, which derives 

 its name from the crater. This town is jvist visible, or rather the 

 church and a few important l^uildings are visible from the 

 anchoi'ase. On the north side of the river is the suburb known as 

 Lemeri, and about five miles to the south is the town of San 

 Luis, so that the place has a populous appeai'ance. Taal is, like 

 many of the important centres of population in the country 

 places which boast of a parish priest and a gobernadorcillo, a 



