^26 Voyage of the Novara. 



sterdam, joined our party. The first-named had lived for 

 long on the island, and had already visited all its most access- 

 ible spots, whence he had returned with some very accurate 

 sketches ; the latter had been sent out by his firm to Manila, 

 in 1857, when the price of sugar had fallen, for the purpose of 

 purchasing, at the price to which he was limited, a large 

 quantity of that important article of colonial produce. By 

 the time, however, he had reached the capital of the Philip- 

 pines, the value of the sugar had already, in consequence of a 

 favourable crop, exceeded the limit assigned him, and has 

 since then advanced 300 j^er cent. Still the Amsterdam agent 

 held on, awaiting a fall, and meanwhile did his best to wile 

 away his time of exile by feasting his eyes with all the va- 

 rious beauties of the island. 



On a grey, dreary morning we found ourselves pulling up 

 the Pasig in small covered boats, till we reached the Lagune, 

 where a larger craft was awaiting us, to take the entire com- 

 pany of pilgrims on board and transport them to the opposite 

 shore of this inland lake, as far as Los Banos. In clear sunny 

 weather a row in a hanca upon the river Pasig, the aorta of 

 Manila, which forms the communication between the city and 

 the Lagune, together with all the various settlements along 

 the shores of that internal sea, must be exceedingly pleasant. 

 The banks of the river, indeed, are flat and unsightly, but 

 the vegetation rejoices in a marvellous profusion of the most 

 beautiful forms and colours. The Bamhusacece are the chief 

 ornament of the shores, on which there are but few palms to 



