466 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



thence to Padang Panjang, wliile I accompanied tlie 

 Resident and controleur on horseback. After we 

 had rested awhile at a small summer-house, I con- 

 tinued on foot up the ravine as far as coffee-trees 

 are planted, a coolie from the valley following me, 

 and continually begging me to return, for fear we 

 might be attacked by a tiger. I told him to go back 

 and let me proceed alone ; but we were already so 

 far away that he did not dare to leave me. The whole 

 interior of this crater is covered with a dense forest, 

 in which there are many trees, showing that it 

 has constantly remained inactive for many years, 

 and this is con'oborated by what we know of the 

 history of this part of Menangkabau ; for, when " the 

 volcano " is spoken of, it is probable that the Merapi 

 is meant, and not the Sago, on the one side, nor the 

 Singalang on the other. 



As I could not reach to the bottom of the crater 

 by following up the ravine, I determined to try to 

 ascend one of the ridges on its sides, and possibly 

 look down into it from an elevated point. That part 

 of the steep mountain-side was covered with tall 

 grass, and the "tufa," or red clay, formed by the 

 decomposition of the volcanic rock, ejected ft'om this 

 vent, was very slippery after the recent shower. Yet, 

 by grasping the grass and small shrubbery, I made 

 my way up nearly to the rim of the crater, but did 

 not get the unobstructed view I wished. To obtain 

 this, it is necessary to ascend the mountain on the 

 north side. I was, however, far more than repaid 

 for my labor, by the magnificent landscape spread out 

 before me to the south and southeast. At my feet 



