RIVER PASSIG. 
243 
In our passage up the river, we passed many of the canoes of the 
natives formed of the hollowed trunk of a tree, about twenty feet 
long, two wide, and one deep. These have sometimes an awning 
extending almost the whole length of the boat, formed of the 
plaited leaves of the palm, supported on six posts ; and on the 
bottom, an elastic platform of split bamboo, on which passengers 
can recline at full length. A very thick entire bamboo always 
passes along the outside of the gunwhale, which, offering an increased 
surface of great buoyancy to the water when the canoe heels over, 
prevents its upsetting. These canoes are often shaped like a fish, 
having the head and stern carved to represent its head and tail, 
and the body rounded to the shape of its belly. They are rowed 
by four paddles, and make great way even against a strong current. 
On approaching the lake, we found the country low and marshy, 
cut by innumerable rivulets, and in many places flooded. Herds of 
buffaloes, of a pale blue colour and little hair, with very long curved 
horns turned back close to the head, were crossing the river, having 
the nose and eyes alone above the water. Little boys, on these 
occasions, often stand on the backs of the headmost animals, holding 
by a string fastened to their heads, and in guiding them guide the 
whole herd. 
The stream of the river having been strongly against us, we 
gained the entrance of the lake too late to reach Los Bagnos that 
night, then distant about thirty miles, and therefore directed our 
course to the Convent of Benangonan, situated on its bank. The 
lake, soon after leaving the river, exhibited an expanse of water 
which seemed to justify the calculation of its reputed extent. So 
great indeed was its breadth, that its boundaries were very ill 
defined, although many of the circumjacent mountains are high. 
The surface was covered with void fowl too shy to allow our 
obtaining any shots. The bamboo nets, or rather fences, used by 
the natives for taking fish, were very numerous, and must render 
its navigation in the dark very dangerous. They are mere 
bamboo mats fastened to poles, and placed upright in the water, 
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