4.54 ADAMS AND PRATT. 



Von Drasche, who visited Iriga, described the crater as being filled, with 

 chaotic masses to hialf the height of the north wall and to contain a deep hole 

 called the "well." He refers to the legend of the falling in of Iriga and says that 

 the great blocks of stone which one sees near Buhi Lake and strewn farther out 

 give a presumptive proof. 



What actually happened at the time of the formation of Buhi Lake 

 and the so-called eniption or sinking of a part of Iriga probably will 

 never be entirely clear. The topogi-aphy suggests that a section of the 

 cone broke down and was thrown outward to the south, and that the 

 d6bris formed a dam which gave rise to the lake. On published maps, 

 Buhi Lake is shown without an outlet, but there is a river which flows 

 from it in small falls and rapids across the debris of the supposed 

 eruptions. 



A group of lower peaks, probably eruptives, rises from the coast be- 

 tween Iriga and Lagonoy Gulf. They may be called the Elizardo Moun- 

 tains from the name of the principal peak, which has an elevation of 666 

 meters. These mountains have the appearance of a spur from Mount 

 Malinao. 



Mount Malinao is volcanic. It contains a great crater which may be 

 seen from the east by looking up the deep gulch through which its in- 

 terior is drained. Its inner walls are bare and show recent rock falls. 

 The sky line of the summit is nearly horizontal and the rim of the 

 crater is crescentic. The elevation on the north summit is 1,547 meters 

 and on the south, 1,657 meters. 



Mount Masaraga is somewhat pyramidal as seen from the south and 

 has no crater but is usually considered a volcanic peak. The elevation 

 is 1,339 metei-s. A long spru' extends from its peak to the northwest. 



Mayon Volcano rises frctai a broad base to an elevation of 2,421 

 meters. The mountain is remarkably symmetrical and is considered 

 one of the most perfect cones in the world. The western side of the rim 

 of the small crater in its apex is higher than the eastern. The outline 

 of its summit is gradually being roughened by weathering and erosion 

 and its flanks are marked by deep gi-ooves, but these details, when seen 

 from certain dirctions and viewed from a distance are softened and the 

 beauty of the cone is most impressive. Only a cone the summit of which 

 is terminated by a snow cap, can rival Mayon for symmetry. There 

 are no craters or parasitic cones on the slope of the volcano. To the 

 northeast, near its base, there are some eruptive hills, one of which has 

 an elevation of 457 meters. Just north of Albay there is a small cone 

 having an elevation of 169 meters. 



The panorama of volcanic peaks extending from Isarog on the north 

 to Mayon on the south may be seen from steamships passing on Lagonoy 

 Gulf. Similarly, the traveler who journeys by land from Legaspi to 

 Xueva Caceres through the Bicol Valley may obtain a comprehensive 



