46 A NATUBALIST IN CELEBES ch. in 



action of gravity into broad streaks or roads radiating from the 

 crater outwards to the sea-coast. These roads are composed 

 either of large blocks, big stones or lumps as big as a man's 

 fist, or of a fine powdery dust. Now those composed of the 

 last material retained the moisture on the surface longer than 

 the others, and consequently seeds brought by the wind, by 

 birds, and other agencies, germinated upon them first and in 

 a very short time the beginnings of a new forest made their 

 appearance. The roads made up of blocks and lumps are, 

 however, not so favourable for the germination of seeds, 

 because the rain soon soaks through them and the sun quickly 

 dries them up again. They thus remain barren for several 

 years after the forest has become established upon the finer 

 soil. In 1885 the slopes of the Euang were mapped out as 

 in a crude pattern with stripes of young forest and stripes 

 of stones and blocks, presenting a very curious and strange 

 appearance when viewed either from the summit or from 

 the sea (see fig. 5). 



For some reason, the vegetation ceased about 200 feet 

 below the lip of the crater, and I could find nothing 

 growing there but a few blades of a grass {Imperata 

 arundinacea) and here and there a fern (Blechnum orientale). 

 The wonder is, however, that anything could grow there at 

 all, for the heat of the soil at midday is intense. Many of 

 the lumps of rock were so hot that it was impossible for me 

 to keep my hand upon them for any length of time. Not- 

 withstanding the intense heat, the absolute dryness, and the 

 absence of vegetation, these higher regions were simply alive 

 with insects of all kinds, whose brilliant colours were very 

 conspicuous against the black rocks and stones. These in- 

 sects were preyed upon by numerous swifts, whose shrill cries 

 alone broke the absolute silence of that desolate spot. The 

 condition of the summit of the Ruang seems to be character- 

 istic of the peaks of the volcanic islands in these regions. 



