BY THE REV. J. E. TENISOX-WOODS, F.G.S., &C. 721 



the submerged mountain, according to the reconstruction of 

 Senor Centeno, is a reasonable theory, and one which accords in 

 a satisfactory manner with the evidence. 



It is a singular fact that one of the most I'espectable of the 

 historians of the Philippines should have taken this view of the his- 

 tory of the Taal volcano. In the "Ilistoria de las islas de Pldlij)- 

 inas comjniesta por el R. F. lector Fr. Joaquin Martinez de ZuTiiga" 

 the following passage occurs : — "There are in this island several 

 volcanoes as that of Mayon, which is between the provinces of 

 Albay and Camarines. It has a sugar loaf figure, and is of such 

 altitude that it may be discovered at an immense distance at sea. 

 The de Taal is of a similar form and stands in the middle of a 

 large lake called de Bombon ; it exhibits sufficient proof that the 

 mountain in whose top the ^•olcano was, has sunk, remaining, how- 

 ever, still pretty much elevated above the water."* In giving Zuiiiga 

 credit for this theory, it must be added that he was not the author of 

 the book which bears his name. He was an Augustinian monk, 

 selected probably by his order to edit the papers of a deceased friar, 

 whose name has not come down to us. The work was published 

 in 1803, but it concludes with the ratification of peace in Manila, 

 and its restoration to the Spanish Government by the English in 

 1763. The real author evidently concluded his chronicle at that 

 date, aiid it was not until nearly 50 years afterwards that the 

 Augustinians resolved on its publication. The friar, whoever he 

 was, had visited the volcano, for he says in the 12th chapter of 

 the 2nd. volume — " In the commencement of the govei'nment of 

 Don Pedro Manuel de Arandia, in the month of December, 1754, 

 there happened a terrible shock of au earthquake, and the Taal, 

 which is in the middle of the Lake Bombon in the province of 

 Batangas, threw out such an immense quantity of cinders, as 

 completely to ruin four towns which were situated near the lake, 

 and the inhabitants found it necessary to retire a league fui'ther 

 into the interior. Many other severe shocks followed, accom- 

 panied by loud reports similar to those of contending squadrons, 



*It is not generally known that there is an English translation of this 

 work by John Maver, published in London in lSl-4, by the booksellers to 

 the Hon. E. Ind. Co., Leadenhall-street. 



