S O O L O O. 347 



numerous fertile valleys lying between the sharp and rugged spurs, 

 it would have had a sterile appearance. 



The bay of Antique is in latitude 10° 40' N., longitude 121° 59' 

 30" E. 



It was my intention to remain for two or three days at a convenient 

 anchorage to enable us to make short excursions into the interior ; but 

 the vexatious mismanagement of the tender now made it incumbent 

 that I should make every possible use of the time to complete the 

 operations connected with the hydrography of this sea; for I perceived 

 that the duties that I intended should be performed by her, would 

 now devolve upon the boats, and necessarily expose both officers and 

 men to the hazard of contracting disease. I regretted giving up this 

 design, not only on my own account and that of the Expedition, but 

 because of the gratification it would have afforded personally to the 

 naturalists. 



The town of San Jose has about thirty bamboo houses, some of 

 which are filled in with clay or mortar, and plastered over, both 

 inside and out. Few of them are more than a single story in height. 

 That of the governor is of the same material, and overtops the rest; 

 it is whitewashed, and has a neat and cleanly appearance. In the 

 vicinity of the town are several beautiful valleys, which run into the 

 mountains from the plain that borders the bay. The landing is on a 

 bamboo bridge, which has been erected over an extensive mud-flat, 

 that is exposed at low water, and prevents any nearer approach of 

 boats. This bridge is about seven hundred feet in length; and a 

 novel plan has been adopted to preserve it from being carried away. 

 The stems of bamboo not being sufficiently large and heavy to main- 

 tain the superstructure in the soft mud, a scaffold is constructed just 

 under the top, which is loaded with blocks of large stone, and the 

 outer piles are secured to anchors or rocks, with grass rope. The 

 roadway or top is ten feet wide, covered with split bamboo, woven 

 together, and has rails on each side, to assist the passenger. This is 

 absolutely necessary for safety ; and even with this aid, one unaccus- 

 tomed to it must be possessed of no little bodily strength to pass over 

 this smooth, slippery, and springy bridge, without accident. 



Two pirogues were at anchor in the bay, and on the shore was the 

 frame of a vessel which had evidently been a long while on the 

 stocks, for the weeds and bushes near the keel were six or eight feet 

 high, and a portion of the timbers were decayed. Carts and sleds 

 drawn by buffaloes were in use, and every thing gave it the appear- 



