696 ON THE VOLCANO OF TAAL, 



of difficulty in getting near the edge, which could only be done 

 from the outer wall. The yellow lake was, at the time of my 

 visit, about 120 yards in length, being a mass of sulphurous paste 

 or crystals of sulphur with oxide of iron, the latter causing 

 orange and reddish stains of considerable extent. Some of these 

 ciystals were of large size. In endeavouring to approach the 

 edge of this lake, my Indian guides showed considerable uneasi- 

 ness lest I should put my foot into some of the soft sulphurous 

 mud which was in places quite scalding hot apparently. In some 

 places one could distinctly see a bubbling up of steam, with patches 

 of agitated water as if it were simmering. Any examination of 

 this locality, I should say, would be fraught with considerable 

 danger. It was my intention to examine the two smoking pits, 

 but my guides displayed so much alarm at the proposition that I 

 concluded there must be more danger in approaching them than I 

 <;ou]d perceive from a distance. The surface for a considerable 

 distance around them was quite moist, and may have been boggy. 



The heat was intense during the time of my visit, though it was 

 scarcely 9 a.m. when I left the crater. My guides kept continually 

 pointing to the sun, and showing me by signs that, when the wind 

 or sea-breeze began to blow, we should be in danger from the 

 sulphurous vapours of the two fumeroles. Under these circum- 

 stances I was obliged to shorten my stay. The rest of the time 

 spent upon the island was occupied in going over the gi'ound so ably 

 described by Sefior Jose Centeno. I had the advantage of his maps 

 and his work with me at the time, and I visited every point in 

 succession that is described by him in connection with the volcano. 

 Some little time was taken up also in barometrical observations, 

 as well as in making collections of plants and minerals. The 

 results of these observations will be given as we proceed. 



My second visit to the volcano, or rather to the Lake of Bombon, 

 was in March of the year following, but on this occasion I went 

 down to the coast first, and then proceeded to the lake from the 

 town of Taal by way of the river Pansipit. I was not able to 

 land upon the island. During the previous September (1885) 

 there had been a severe eruption, and though not accompanied 



