RECENT ERUPTION OF TAAL VOLCANO. 89 



the case is shown by the trees which formerly were on high ground and 

 now are found in water a meter or more in depth. (See Plate VI.) 

 We left at 3.45 in the afternoon on our way back to Banadero. At 



4 o'clock the island was covered by an erupting cloud of mud which 

 swept down the slopes of the crater, soon enveloping the whole island. 

 The latter was continually shaken by earthquakes while we remained 

 on it. At the time we were on Taal, natives were rescuing the few 

 survivors, some 18 or 13, all badly wounded, from the barrio of Pirapiraso 



5 kilometers to the northward. They were taken to Talisay, where well- 

 meaning relatives attempted to stuff these poor people with meats, dry 

 crackers, and strong coffee. 



My assistant joined me on Tuesday morning with additional photo- 

 graphic plates and Messrs. Eddingfield and Pratt, geologists from the 

 division of mines, also came to Bailadero with the intention of taking 

 bbservations. We went directly to the first 'barrio ^ on the northeastern 

 side called Pirapiraso. There we met some natives who were taking away 

 the bodies of dead relatives. They informed us concerning the rescuing 

 of wounded survivors the previous day and of their removal to Talisay; 

 a number of dead people were found at this place. (See Plate lA-^.) 

 We visited the remaining barrios on the island, but found them com- 

 pletely buried under the mud. The launch left us on the north side 

 of the island. Mr. Pratt and I with our baggage took a rowboat to 

 reach our destination, a good hour's rowing distance from the spot, while 

 the launch proceeded to Talisay. 



Mr. Pratt, and I camped in the island on Tuesday. The ground 

 very frequently was shaken by earthquakes. We went to the crater's 

 edge at 3.30 in the afternoon January 31: the activity had lessened 

 since Monday. (See Plate II, fig. 1.) The next morning we went 

 up again and observed that .the activity was further reduced, although 

 the frequency of earthquakes was the same. We attempted to work 

 around to the soiith, but because the fall of mud was so deep and the 

 crust would not support our weight so early in the morning, we were 

 compelled to return. However, we went far enough to enable Mr. Pratt 

 to take his triangulations and to confinn our opinion of the total devasta- 

 tion of the island. AVe next rowed to the barrio of Pirapiraso and found 

 corpses in an advanced state of putrefaction. 



During the first week of February, I was directed to accompany Mr. 

 Pratt on a trip overland from Lemery to Tanauan. A number of fis- 

 sures as well as the damage to buildings in Lemery were observed and 

 photographed.^ (See Plate V, fig. 1.) We had an opportunity fully 



^ Barrio, a small village, administered by a larger town wliich may be at some 

 distance from it. 



' For other photographs see the article by Mr. Pratt in this nimiber of the 

 Journal. 



