374 SMITH, 



us to obtain an unrestricted view in everj- direction whenever the floating clouds 

 below permitted. I had taken a large camera along, but was forced to leave it 

 behind with the cargadores. 



The perimeter of the extinct crater consists of four distinct peaks (one double), 

 and averages about 350 yards in diameter. Carter and I made several attempts 

 to descend into the crater, but finally gave up on account of its precipitous sides, 

 the ropes T had brought along being abandoned when the cargadores gave out. 

 We were enabled, however, to get a good view of it, and to observe that every 

 portion is covered with the same peculiar dense growth described above. It is 

 about 400 feet deep, and apparently three gorges which cut in between peaks 

 prevent the formation of the lake containing deep-sea fish and white crocodiles 

 which the legends oi the superstitious Bilanes described. The volcano has been 

 extinct (the literal translation of Matutum is "has burnt" or "fire out") for a 

 century at least, although Lieutenant Mosher reported from Makar, under date 

 of March 31, 1911, that, "on ]\Iareh 6th severe earthquakes were felt at about 

 11.30 p. ni.,: the following day, March 7th, Mount !Matutum was smoking freely. 

 Severe earthquakes were again experienced on the 22d." Just before we left, a 

 large fire was built, the smoke from which, as we learned afterwards, was seen 

 for many a mile. There is entire absence of rock on the very top, and all of the 

 cone above approximately 6,000 feet elevation (except, of course, the vertical and 

 overhanging walls) is covered with a peculiar vegetable loam. The huge out- 

 eroppings of rock — the precipices heretofore mentioned — are in two different colors, 

 gray and red; both resembled granite (andesite) in appearance, but the gray is 

 quite soft and not unlike pumice. 



I suspect that Major Heiberg's figures are too low. He does not 

 state whether he made any correction for the temperature of the air. 

 If not, the more correct figure would be somewhere in the neighborhood 

 of 2,900 meters. 



Samal Island. — I have never been on this island but have a specimen 

 of limestone which is said by Doctor Whitf ord, of the Bureau of Forestry, 

 to foiTu the capping of many of the higher points of the island. This 

 limestone is white and quite pure. 



THE AGUSAX DISTRICT. 



The district of Agusan lies between the Apo Eange and the eastern 

 Cordillera. Davao is the principal town in its southern part and is 

 the headquarters for the numerous hemp plantations bordering on the 

 gulf of the same name. 'My own knowledge of this region ends with 

 Davao, as at this point I left the exploring party. The town is on 

 a narrow stretch of coastal plain between the Davao and the Lasan 

 Elvers. Eemnants of what appear to be marine terraces, although they 

 may be entirely river formations, occur a short distance back of the 

 settlement. There is one distinct terrace which is from 15 to 30 meters 

 above the sea. I saw no fresh rock exposures, but the streams are 

 full of pebbles, mainly of andesite, which evidently have been brought 

 down from the x\po Eange. Our geologic knowledge of Agusan Province 

 consists almost entirely of observations b)' Messrs. Goodman and Ickis, 

 who made the trip from Davao to Butuan overland. Mr. Goodman's 



