Menage Expedition to the Philippines 155 



had been made, but that no one had ever succeeded in getting 

 a third of the way to the top. 



The natives also said that the mountain had never been 

 cHmbed, even by their own people, but they gave us the reason, 

 the fact that the *'pakduh" or large monkey lived up near the 

 peak, and they were afraid to go up there. We did not have 

 much faith in their stories, but the opportunity was a good one, 

 for determining the existence both of the "pakduh" and of 

 the "manda rata," or goat, because if the goat existed at all in 

 this part of the island it would very likely be on this wild moun- 

 tain. 



So it was that we decided to make an attempt to climb Pulgar. 

 The details of the ascent probably would not interest you. Mr. 

 Worcester started on a day ahead and established a camp at an 

 altitude of 2,000 feet, the highest point ever reached by the na- 

 tives. There I joined him the following day and the next morn- 

 ing we set out for the peak. One man with a large woods knife 

 went ahead to clear a path and others followed carrying blankets, 

 provisions, etc. It was hard work, but was by no means so bad 

 as represented, for by two o'clock P. M. we were at the summit. 

 Our success was undoubtedly due to our good fortune in strik- 

 ing a ridge, which we were able to follow to the very top. 'On 

 all other sides, with possibly one exception, the mountain ap- 

 peared to be inaccessible. We spent the rest of that day and a 

 part of the next on the peak, but failed to discover any indications 

 whatever of the existence of goat or monkey. 



The monkey is undoubtedly a myth, and although it is possible 

 that the goat exists in the northern and more rocky part of the 

 island, it is certain that it does not exist on Mt. Pulgar, nor 

 could it. The mountain is very rocky but is entirely covered with 

 vegetation, which, although stunted at the top, is thick, almost 

 impenetrable to such an animal, and not at all suited to it. 



We should like to visit the northern part of the island, as, 

 from all accounts, it is quite different from this part, but are un- 

 able to do so. The steamers do not call there and at this time 

 of the year it is almost if not quite impossible ro make the voy- 

 age in a small boat. 



Our trip to Pulgar was not without some results however, as 

 we were able to secure a good collection of ferns and mosses. 



