THE LAKl!;S. 



119 



"It was intensely liotj and the hill ascent very laborious ; 

 but the yicw IVoiii the summit was worth the trouble. 

 Looking in the direction where we imagined ^^e had 

 entered the waters, we were at fault ; for the lahjrinth 

 of lakes seemed interminable^ — basin after basin of blue 

 Milter api>cai'ing one above the other. Some of the distant 

 land lay high ; It sloped gradually to the water's edge, and 

 seemed to be capable of any degree of cultivatiou. 



" In an opposite direction the lake-view was not equally 

 extensive, but boundetl by higher mountains^ at the 

 foot of which, in a plain beyond, communicating by 

 riYera with the lake, stands the town of Sau Francisco, 

 The view on this side was more lively, the monotony of 

 the lake being relieved by the white sails of the uumerous 

 canoes passing to and fro. The low-land immediateij 

 beneath our feet, bordering the lakoj was teeming \^'ith 

 herds of cattle. Altogether the scene was indescribably 

 beautiful, 



"It seemed strange to tis that agriculture was so partially 

 pui^ued on the shores of these hkes, whei e the soil was 

 so rich, where easy means of irrigation are at command, 

 and where the w^ater-communitation from all parts with 

 Manilla is so open and ejisj. Tlie explanation given was 

 that all communication, %vhcther by land or water, is 

 insecure ; liable to the attacks of banditti, — these are 

 composed partly of deserters from the ?muy, and partly 

 of native Lidians, a race still untamed and unimpressiblej 

 as to the advantages of rpiict commerce. 



