Ascent of Gunung Pangcrango. 215 



enlighten them as to the present condition and prospects of 

 this very important branch of cultivation. 



On the morning- of loth May we set off on horse-back for 

 the Pangerango, which was covered with dense vapours, 

 which wholly concealed it from view, and rather damped our 

 hopes of enjoying a fine view from the summit. A path for 

 horses has been made to the very top, and although at certain 

 points this passes over exceedingly steep ground, yet the 

 Javanese horses climb with such safety and dogged persever- 

 ance, even in the most dangerous spots, that one may leave 

 these small but powerful animals to choose their way, with 

 as much confidence as in the case of that most sure-footed of 

 animals, the mule of South America. Our cavalcade con- 

 sisted of thirty riders, while an immense number of natives 

 took on themselves the duties of an honorary body-guard. 

 The forests, usually so lonely, were now alive with hundreds 

 of men, busy transporting our horses, provisions, couches, 

 tables, and stores, which were all to be conveyed to the highest 

 peak of the mountain, where we intended to spend the 

 evening. After we had attained a considerable distance from 

 Tjipannas, constantly ascending till we were about 4000 feet 

 above it, we found the flanks of the mountain quite free of 

 wood. The traveller sees a few villages scattered at random, 

 and rides over grass pasturages, on which are feeding troops 

 of buffalos, alternating with plantations of tobacco or coffee. 

 But at the very point where the forest gradually begins, 

 where gigantic trees have been left standing like so many 



