TERXATE. 393 



reached from which a descent of about 100 feet was made into 

 an outer ancient crater, corresponding to the Canadas of the 

 Peak of Teneriffe. 



There are two such outer ancient craters at the summit of 

 the Peak of Ternate, and the ridges forming the old borders of 

 these craters and the outer portions of the bottoms of the craters 

 themselves are traversed in succession on the way to the ter- 

 minal modern cone of eruption which stands in the inner of the 

 two. 



The outer and oldest of the craters is a wild-looking place, 

 inhabited by numerous wild pigs and deer. It is covered with 

 a growth of bushes and a small tree fern, and four other species 

 of ferns,* and with these grows a Club-moss (Zycopodium), and 

 a Whortleberry ( Vaccinium). The shrubs were apparently of 

 only two species, and the flora seemed a very poor one in number 

 of species. 



The second ridge, marking the summit of the inner extinct 

 crater, is about 50 feet higher than the outer one. Within this 

 inner crater there is scarcely any vegetation, a few scattered 

 blades of grass only. Here was met with a large mass of lava, 

 evidently recently ejected from the active crater, and hurled to 

 this distance. The mass had a smooth reddened surface, and 

 was deeply split all over by cracks formed evidently by con- 

 traction on cooling. 



The terminal cone itself is entirely devoid of vegetation. 

 The cavity of the inner extinct crater from which it rises is 

 filled up, except at its margin, by the results of later eruptions. 

 Hence the base of the terminal cone lies about 60 feet above the 

 level of the margin of this crater, and is approached by a gentle 

 ascent. 



The cone itself rises steeply and suddenly, with a slope of 

 30°, and is about 350 feet in height. The guides had hesitated 

 somewhat when we ascended the slope leading out of the first 

 extinct crater, and had done their best to persuade us not to go any 

 farther, telling us it that was dangerous to proceed. They lagged 



* Gleichenia dichotomy Pteris incisa, Polypodium phlebiscopum. 

 J. G. Baker, F.E.S., "On the Polynesian Ferns of the 'Challenger' 

 Expedition." Journ. of Linn. Soc, Bot., Vol. XII. p. 104. 



