XI, A, 6 Goldsberry: Eruption of Bulusan Volcano 253 



centimeter and Mombon about 1.5 centimeters. An odor said 

 to resemble "gunpowder" was detectable. Reports had come 

 from Patag, a barrio 3.5 kilometers east of Irosin, that 0.25 

 meter of ash had fallen, but upon investigation the thickness 

 of ash was located in stream eddies and had been carried down 

 from the mountain by water and not by wind. 



Wednesday, January 19, was a clear day. White clouds of 

 steam and sulphur vapor came from the volcano, seemingly 

 from a vent near the top. Late Tuesday night or early Wed- 

 nesday morning the people claim to have felt a long-continued 

 quake which was not violent. 



No disturbance was noticed on January 20 or 21, but between 

 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning of January 22, loud noises were 

 heard, followed by light and dark "smoke." A small stream of 

 milky water, which appeared the size of an arm, could be seen 

 pouring from the crater. These disturbances are said to have 

 continued for a period of from three to four hours, although 

 some claimed to have heard noises during the afternoon. After 

 the 22d no disturbances occurred except in the minds of some, 

 who felt earthquakes and heard noises every evening. Clouds 

 kept the mountain hidden for the following seven days. 



RECONNAISSANCE ABOUT IROSIN 



The day after my arrival at Irosin (Saturday, January 29) 

 it rained during the entire morning, but about 2 o'clock in the 

 afternoon the weather cleared and the volcano became visible. 



The mountain rises from Irosin Valley to a height of about 

 1,500 meters. From my viewpoint the slopes appeared sym- 

 metrical and moderately steep. The summit seemed to be 

 truncated and serrated. Small erosion gullies could be traced 

 down the flanks and resembled the ribs of a fan. The vegetation 

 appeared green to the top. A small crater could be seen on the 

 southwest side, a short distance below the top, from which 

 rolled a small spiral of white vapor. The mist, rising in the 

 small gullies, gave some of the people the impression that the 

 flanks were dotted with numerous small vents. The clouds soon 

 surrounded the mountain, obscuring the view, and more showers 

 followed. 



I had decided that the first clear day I would try to make a 

 trip to the top of Bulusan. Sunday morning it was raining at 

 daybreak, so I spent the day in making a trip to Mombon, a 

 barrio about 3 kilometers to the northwest of Irosin, to see the 

 hot springs in that vicinity, after which I returned to Irosin 

 and hence west to the divide between Irosin Valley and the 



