368 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



and tliat I could not expect to reacli tlie bottom with 

 that, for all the fishermen who live on its shores de- 

 clare that it " has no bottom," that is, is unfathoma- 

 ble. It would be something to know that it was 

 more than twelve hundred feet deep — so a coolie 

 was ordered to carry the line. From Kakas we 

 rowed over a short distance toward the high shore 

 opposite, that being said to be one of the unmeasur- 

 able places. A heavy sinker was put on, and the 

 whole line cleared, so that it would run out freely 

 to the last foot. I gave the man at the bow the 

 command, and the cord began to rattle over the 

 boat's side, when suddenly it stopped short. " Is the 

 sinker off ? " " No, it's on the bottom." " How 

 many fathoms are out." " Eleven fathoms and five 

 feet." After this we sounded eight times, and the 

 deej)est water, which was near the middle, between 

 the two high capes, is only twelve fathoms and two 

 feet. The water not only proved shallow, but the 

 bottom was found to be as even as the lowland at 

 the northern and southern ends of the lake. The 

 basin is therefore only a slight depression in the 

 lower part of the plateau. The only fishes known 

 in this lake are the same three species already men- 

 tioned as existing in the sulphurous waters of Lake 

 Linu. Reaching the large village of Tondano, at the 

 northern end of the lake, I was kindly received by 

 the controleur^ who had accompanied me already 

 from Tomohon to Bonder. A heavy rain set in, and 

 I was obliged to defer the rest of my journey till the 

 next day. 



January 2d. — ^The thick rain-clouds of yesterday 



