How Private Burns Climbed Mt. Pinatubo. 27 



a Negrito guide called Lawayan^ two pack-mules, and five 

 horses. We left Camp Stotsenburg May 23d, and about 

 4 p. M. we reached the Bamban River at a point some 

 twelve miles west of Stotsenburg. It was a beautiful ride 

 through the canon and over the wooded foothills, though 

 one must at times dismount and walk through the heavy 

 underbrush and down the steeper slopes. 



We went into camp on a picturesque ledge, or bench, 

 about fifty feet above the roaring river which dashed past 

 us, and entered a deep gorge just below. All about us 

 arose pinnacles carved by ages of wind and water from an 

 ancient bed of volcanic ashes partly solidified into rock. 

 In fact, one could scarcely call it rock, it looked so soft; 

 but it must have been more firm than it appeared to have 

 stood in great minarets about us as it did. A small trail 

 at the north end of the bench enabled us to water our 

 stock, and by closing the trail leading from above to our 

 camp we had the animals in a little pasture from which 

 there was no avenue of escape. 



During the afternoon Martin and Lawayan went to 

 find some other Negritos. These little people live in huts 

 far up on the mountain-side, and are very shy and bash- 

 ful about appearing before strangers. Late that evening 

 Martin returned and stated that he had secured some 

 other guides, who would meet us next morning on the 

 road. 



In the morning early Packer Schad, Private Burns, 

 Martin, Cesario, and myself set forth. We had emergency 

 rations for two days, a little coffee, a pound of bacon, 

 two bolos, four canteens, and some matches. Besides 

 these, Schad, Burns, and I each carried a revolver. We 

 took no blankets, coats, nor rain-coats, as we felt that 



