Cuar. XVIII] APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. 341 
ception, they are now all inactive; but traces of 
them were met with at every step of our progress 
through the higher districts of the country, in the 
form of circular pools of stagnant water, and masses 
of lava which still emit a most disagreeable odour 
when they are stirred up. On the top of a high 
hill, near St. Pablo, I came unexpectedly on the re- 
mains of a still more recent volcano. The trees in 
its vicinity were in a most unhealthy state, many of 
their roots and branches being decayed. Some- 
times I sunk nearly up to the knees amongst burnt- 
looking earth, which emitted a strong sulphureous 
smell; and, as none of the natives were with me, I 
was sometimes afraid of getting into the mouth of 
the crater, and going-down altogether. 
The Island of Luzon, of which Manila is the ca- 
pital, is very like Java and other parts of the straits. 
It is very hilly, but extremely fertile, and affords a 
most striking contrast tothe barren shores of the 
south of China which IJ had just left. Large crops of 
rice are produced on the low lands which are capable 
of being flooded. Sugar and tobacco are grown on 
such ground as would produce good wheat in Eng- 
land; and coffee and chocolate trees are planted on 
the sides of the hills. The Manila mango is con- 
sidered one of the finest in the world, not inferior 
to that which is produced near Bombay. Cocoa- 
nuts, plantains, bananas, and other tropical fruits 
abound, and are to be had in great perfection. Be- 
sides these oranges are also cultivated; but they 
are inferior to those of China and Europe ; indeed, 
z3 
