MANILLA. 337 



Such had been the time taken up, that the party found it impos- 

 sible to reach the summit and return before dark. They therefore 

 began to collect specimens ; and after having obtained a full load, they 

 returned late in the afternoon to Bafios. 



The mountain is composed of trachytic rocks and tufa, which are 

 occasionally seen to break through the rich and deep soil, showing 

 themselves here and there, in the deep valleys which former volcanic 

 action has created, and which have destroyed the regular outline of 

 the cone-shaped mountain. The tufa is generally found to form the 

 gently-sloping plains that surround these mountains, and has in all 

 probability been ejected from them. Small craters, of some two 

 hundred feet in height, are scattered over the plains. The tufa is 

 likewise exposed to view on the shores of the lake ; but elsewhere, 

 except on a few bare hills, it is entirely covered with the dense and 

 luxuriant foliage. The tufa is generally of a soft character, crum- 

 bling in the fingers, and in it are found coarse and fine fragments of 

 scoria, pumice, &c. The layers are from a few inches to five feet in 

 thickness. 



In the country around Bafios, there are several volcanic hills, and 

 on the sides of Mount Maquiling are appearances of parasitic cones, 

 similar to those observed at the Hawaiian Islands; but time and the 

 foliage have so disguised them, that it is difficult to determine exactly 

 their true character. 



I regretted exceedingly that the party that set out for the Lake de 

 Taal was not able to reach it, as, from the accounts I had, it must 

 be one of the most interesting portions of the country. It lies nearly 

 southwest from Manilla, and occupies an area of about one hundred 

 and twenty square miles. The Volcano de Taal is situated on an 

 island near the centre of it, and is now in action. The cone which 

 rises from its centre is remarkably regular, and consists for the most 

 part of cinders and scoria. It has been found to be nine hundred 

 feet in elevation above the lake. The crater has a diameter of two 

 miles, and its depth is equal to the elevation : the walls of the 

 crater are nearly perpendicular, so much so that the descent cannot 

 be made without the assistance of ropes. At the bottom there are 

 two small cones. Much steam issues from the many fissures, 

 accompanied by sulphurous acid gas. The waters of the lake are 

 impregnated with sulphur, and there are said to be also large beds of 

 sulphur. In the opinion of those who have visited this spot, the whole 

 lake once formed an immense crater ; and this does not appear very 



vol. v. 85 



