126 Java. 



ant but less lofty vegetation. We passed a torrent of water 

 which is not much lower than the boiling-point, and has a 

 most singular appearance as it foams over its rugged bed, 

 sending up clouds of steam, and often concealed by the over- 

 hanging herbage of ferns and lycopodia, which here thrive 

 with more luxuriance than elsewhere. 



At about 7500 feet we came to another hut of open bam- 

 boos, at a place called Kandang Badak, or " Rhinoceros-field," 

 which we were going to make our temporary abode. Here 

 was a small clearing, with abundance of tree-ferns and some 

 young plantations of Cinchona. As there was now a thick 

 mist and drizzling rain, I did not attempt to go on to the 

 summit that evening, but made two visits to it during my 

 stay, as well as one to the active crater of Gedeh. This is 

 a vast semicircular chasm, bounded by black perpendicular 

 walls of rock, and surroimded by miles of rugged scoria- 

 covered slopes. The crater itself is not very deep. It ex- 

 hibits patches of sulphur and variously-colored volcanic pro- 

 ducts, and emits from several vents continual streams of 

 smoke and vapor. The extinct cone of Pangerango was to 

 me more interesting. The summit is an irregular undula- 

 ting plain with a low bordering ridge, and one deep lateral 

 chasm. Unfortunately there was perpetual mist and rain 

 either above or below us all the time I was on the mount- 

 ain ; so that I never once saw the plain below, or had a 

 glimpse of the magnificent view which in fine weather is to 

 be obtained from its summit. Notwithstanding this draw- 

 back I enjoyed the excursion exceedingly, for it was the first 

 time I had been high enough on a mountain near the Equa- 

 tor to watch the change from a tropical to a temperate flora. 

 I will now briefly sketch these changes as I observed them 

 in Java. 



On ascending the mountain, we first meet with temperate 

 forms of herbaceous plants so low as 3000 feet, where straw- 

 berries and violets begin to grow, but the former are taste- 

 less, and the latter have very small and pale flowers. Weedy 

 Compositse also begin to give a European aspect to the way- 

 side herbage. It is between 2000 and 5000 feet that the 

 forests and ravines exhibit the utmost development of trop- 

 ical luxuriance and beauty. The abundance of noble tree- 



