MANILLA. 317 



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 south- 

 west 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 eleva- 

 tion 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 per- 

 pendicular, 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 improbable, if we are to credit the 

 accounts we received of the many craters on this island that are now 

 filled with water ; for instance, in the neighbourhood of San Pablo there 

 are said to be eight or nine. 



The hot springs of Banos are numerous, and in their vicinity large 

 quantities of steam are seen to issue from the shore of the lake. There 

 are about a dozen which give out a copious supply of water. The 

 principal one has been enclosed, and made to flow through a stone 

 aqueduct, which discharges a considerable stream. The temperature 

 of the water as it leaves the aqueduct is 178°. The villagers use it for 

 cooking and washing : the signs of the former employment are evident 

 enough from the quantities of feathers from the poultry that have been 

 scalded and plucked preparatory to cooking. The baths are formed by 

 a small circular building six feet in diameter, erected over the point of 

 discharge for the purpose of securing a steam-bath : the temperature of 

 these is 160° and 140°. A change of temperature is said to have 

 occurred in the latter. 



The rocks in the vicinity are all tufa, and some of the springs break 

 out close to the cold water of the lake. Near the aqueduct, a stone 

 wall surrounds one of the principal outlets. Two-thirds of the area thus 

 enclosed is occupied by a pond of warm water, and the other third is 

 divided into two stone reservoirs, built for baths. These baths had at 

 one time a high reputation, and were a very fashionable resort for the 

 society of Manilla; but their celebrity gradually diminished, and the 



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