370 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGEAPHY AND TRAVEL 



The most important mountains are chiefly in the northern 

 part, but Mount Alas, which has the greatest altitude, is 

 situated about the middle of the island near the south 

 coast, and is stated to reach the height of 12,250 feet. 

 Another fine peak is Kabalaki, about 10,000 feet, not 

 far from Dilli. The chief mountain in Dutch territory 

 is Lakan (6500 feet). It was for long supposed that 

 Timor was without volcanoes, but this is not the case, 

 and there have been recent eruptions both in the eastern 

 and western parts of the island. Mr. Scrope in his work 

 on volcanoes speaks of Timor Peak as a mountain of 

 great height, continually active before the year 1638, 

 when it was blown up during an eruption and the peak 

 replaced by a crater-lake. Before this occurrence the 

 mountain was said to be visible 300 miles off, which, if 

 true, would imply that it was the loftiest in the archi- 

 pelago. Earthquakes are rather frequent, and mud 

 volcanoes exist in Semang and Landu islands. 



Mr. Forbes speaks of the country at some distance 

 inland from Dilli as presenting the most bizarre and 

 fantastic appearance from the limestone formation pre- 

 valent in that region. Superimposed clays make land- 

 slips extraordinarily frequent, and he regards road-making 

 as almost impossible in many places for this reason. 

 The paths are deep ditches along which the ponies pass 

 in single file, now ascending, now descending the abrupt 

 ravines which are so marked a feature of the island. 

 Iron occurs, as well as copper and gold, the two latter 

 probably being abundant, and coal and petroleum are 

 also found. The rivers are numerous but not navigable, 

 and from the excessive drought of the dry season and 

 the porous nature of the soil many at that time of year 

 do not reach the sea. No lakes of any size are 

 known. 



