260 



CELEBES. 



[chap. 3CVII. 



This evidence of intense heat so near the surface over 

 a large tract of comitrj', was very inipressive, and I cou]<l 

 hardly divest myself of the notion that some teniblc 

 catastrophe miglit at any moment devastate the country. 

 Yet it is probtilile that all these apertures are really 

 safety-valves, and that the inequalities of the resistnntu^ 

 of various parts of the earth's crust, will always prevent 

 such an accumulation of force as would be required t>» 

 upheave and overwhelm auy extensive area. About seven 

 miles west of this is a volcano wliieli was in eruption 

 about thirty years before my visit, presenting a mag- 

 nificent appearance ami covering the ^urroundirj^' country 

 with showers of ashes. Tlie plains around the lake lornied 

 by the interminglin^r and decomposition of volcanic pru- 

 ducts are of amazing fertility, and with a little njannge- 

 meiit in the rotation of crops might be kept in continual 

 cultivation. Kice is now grown on them for three or 

 four years in succession, when they are left fallow for 

 the same period, after which lice or maize can be again 

 grown. Good rice produces thirty-fold, and coffee trees 

 continue bearing abundantly for ten or fifteen years, with- 

 out any manure and \nth scarcely any cultivation. 



I was dehiyed a day by incessant rain, and then pro- 

 ceeded to Paughu, whmh I reached just before the daily 

 rain began at 11 a.m. After leaving the summit level of 

 the lake basin, the road is carried along the slope of a tine 

 forest raviue. The descent is a long one, so that I estimated 

 the vdlage to be not more than 1,5U0 feet above the sea, yet 

 I found the morning temperature often 69^, the same as 

 at Toudano at least GOO or 700 feet higher. I was pleased 

 with the appearance of the place, which had a good deal 

 of forest and wikl country around it ; and found prepared 

 for me a little house consisting only of a verandah and a 

 back room. This was only intended for visitors to rest in, 

 or to pass a night, but it suited me very well, I was so 

 unfortunate, however, as to lose both my huntei's just at 

 this time. One had been left at Tondano with, fever 

 and diarrhoea, and the other was attacked at Lang<5Tvaii 

 with intianimatiou of the chest, and as his case looked 

 rather bad I had him sent back to ilenado. The people 

 here were all so busy with their rice-harvest, which it was 



