Chap. XV.] ASCENT OF THE VOLCANO. 



339 



from which a descent of about loo feet was made into an 

 outer ancient crater, corresponding to the Canadas of the Peak 

 of Tenerife. 



There are two such outer ancient craters at the summit of 

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

 and the outer portions of the bottoms of the craters themselves 

 are traversed in succession on the way to the terminal 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 {^Lycopo- 

 diiim), and a Whortleberry {Vaainiuin). The shrubs were 

 apparently of only two species, and the flora seemed very poor 

 in number of species. 



The second ridge, making 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 we 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 

 contraction 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 further, telling us that it was dangerous to proceed. 

 They lagged behind as we approached the terminal cone, and 

 as soon as we began to climb it, turned round and ran back as 

 fast as they could go. 



We were told afterwards that they have strong superstitious 

 fears concerning the volcano, and believe that if any one climbs 

 the terminal cone, a terrible eruption and earthquake are 

 certain to ensue. It appears as if there might be some real 

 risk in the ascent. The cone is not composed of ashes, but 

 of masses of basaltic lava of various sizes ; all of these on the 



* Gleichenia dichotoma, Pteris incisa, Polypodium phlebiscopum. J. G 

 Baker, F.R.S., "On the Polynesian Ferns of the 'Challenger Lxpedi- 

 tion." Journ. of Linn. Soc, Bot., Vol. XIL, p. 104, 



