The Vincennes and Flying- Fish sail 

 from Manilla. 



SOOLOO. 



The Vincennes and Flying-Fish sail 

 from Manilla. 



many fissures, accompanied by sulphurous acid 

 gas. The waters of the lake are impregnated with 

 sulphur, and there are said to be also large beds of 

 sulphur. In the opinion of those who have visited 

 this spot, the whole lake once formed an immense 

 crater; and this does not appear very improbable, 

 if we are to credit the accounts we received of the 

 many craters on this island that are now filled with 

 water; for instance, in the neighbourhood of San 

 Pablo there are said to be eight or nine. 



The hot springs of Banos are numerous, and in 

 their vicinity large quantities of steam are seen to 

 issue from the shore of the lake. There are about 

 a dozen which give out a copious supply of water. 

 The principal one has been enclosed, and made to 

 flow through a stone aqueduct, which discharges a 

 considerable stream. The temperature of the 

 water as it leaves the aqueduct is 178. The vil- 

 lagers use it for cooking and washing: the signs of 

 the former employment are evident enough from 

 the quantities of feathers from the poultry that 

 have been scalded and plucked preparatory to cook- 

 ing. The baths are formed by a small circular 

 building six feet in diameter, erected over the point 

 of discharge for the purpose of securing a steam- 

 bath: the temperature of these is 160 and 140. 

 A change of temperature is said to have occurred 

 in the latter. 



The rocks in the vicinity are all tufa, and some 

 of the springs break out close to the cold water of 

 the lake. Near the aqueduct, a stone wall sur- 

 rounds one of the principal outlets. Two-thirds of 

 the area thus enclosed is occupied by a pond of 

 warm water, and the other third is divided into 

 two stone reservoirs, built for baths. These baths 

 had at one time a high reputation, and were a very 

 fashionable resort for the society of Manilla; but 

 their celebrity gradually diminished, and the whole 

 premises have gone out of repair, and are fast fall- 

 ing to ruin. 



On Mount Maquiling, wild buffaloes, hogs, a 



small species of deer, and monkeys, are found. 

 Birds are also very numerous, and among them is 

 the horn-bill : the noise made by this bird resem- 

 bles a loud barking; report speaks of them as an 

 excellent bird for the table. Our gentlemen 

 reached their lodging-place as the night closed in, 

 and the next day again embarked for Manilla, re- 

 gretting that time would not permit them to make 

 another visit to so interesting a field of research. 

 They found the lake so rough that they were com- 

 pelled to return, and remain until eight o'clock. 

 This, however, gave our botanists another oppor- 

 tunity of making collections, among which were 

 beautiful specimens of volkameria splendens, with 

 elegant scarlet flowers, and a brugmansia, which 

 expanded its beautiful silvery flowers after sunset. 

 On the shores a number of birds were feeding, in- 

 cluding pelicans, with their huge bills, the diver, 

 with its long-arched neck, herons, gulls, eagles, and 

 snow-white cranes, with ducks and other small 

 aquatic flocks. Towards night these were joined 

 by large bats, that were seen winging their way 

 towards the plantations of fruit. These, with quan- 

 tities of insects, gave a vivid idea of the wonderful 

 myriads of animated things that are constantly 

 brought into being in these tropical and luxuriant 

 climates. 



Sailing all night in a rough sea, they were much 

 incommoded by the water, which was shipped into 

 the banca which kept them constantly bailing out; 

 they reached the river Pasig at daylight, and again 

 passed the duck establishments, and the numerous 

 boats and bancas on their way to the markets of 

 Manilla. Both the parties reached the consul's 

 the same day, highly pleased with their respec- 

 tive jaunts. 



On the morning of the 21st of January, we 

 took leave of our friends, and got under way. We 

 then, with a strong northerly wind, and a native 

 pilot on board, made all sail to the south for the 

 Straits of Mindoro. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

 SOOLOO. 



THE VINCENNES AND FLYING-FISH SAIL FROM MANILLA ISLAND OF MINDORO ISLAND OF PANAY TOWN OF SAN 

 JOSE ISLAND OF MINDANAO SAMBOANGAN ISLAND OF SOOLOO THE VINCENNES ANCHORS IN THE BAY OF 



SOUNG HOUSE OF THE DATU OR GOVERNOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE DATU INTERVIEW WITH THE 



SULTAN PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE SULTAN THE SOLTAN's SON BOWIE-KNIFE PISTOL STOLEN RESTORED 

 CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE OF SOOLOO DRESS OF THE WOMEN OCCUPATIONS GOVERNMENT OF THE SOOLOO 

 ARCHIPELAGO POPULATION OF THE ISLAND THE VINCENNES SAILS FOR THE STRAITS OF BALABAC MANGSEE 

 ISLANDS SURVEYS MADE ISLAND OF BALAMBANGAN STRAITS OF BALABAC STRAITS OF SINGAPORE REUNION 

 OF THE SQUADRON CRUISE OF THE PORPOISE AND OREGON. 



ON the evening of the 21st of January, the Vin- 

 cennes, with the tender in company, left the bay of 

 Manilla. I then sent for Mr. Knox, who com- 

 manded the latter, and gave him directions to keep 

 closely in company with the Vincennes, and at the 

 same time pointed out to him places of rendezvous 

 where the vessels might again meet in case any 

 unavoidable circumstance caused their separation. 

 I was more particular in giving him instructions 

 to avoid losing sight of the Vincennes, as I was 



aware that my proposed surveys might be impeded 

 or frustrated altogether, were I deprived of the 

 assistance of the vessel under his command. 



On the 22nd, we passed the entrance of the Straits 

 of San Bernadino. It would have been my most 

 direct route to follow these straits until I had 

 passed Mindoro, and it is, I am satisfied, the safest 

 course, unless the winds are fair, for the direct 

 passage. My object, however, was to examine the 

 ground for the benefit of others, and the Apo 



