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Art. XXI . — Jccount of the Volcano de Taal^ in Lii^on^ one 
of the Philippine Islands. By Dr A. Von Chamisso 
We had an opportunity to make only one excursion, of eight 
days, into the interior, to Taal, and the volcano, of the same 
name, in the Laguna de Bonborig. The military escort accom- 
panying us, which was a mark of Spanish pomp, was very 
troublesome, and increased the expences of a journey where 
only a guide would have been requisite among the mild and 
hospital Tagalese. The Island of Ln^on is every v/here high 
and mountainous ; the highest summits do not seem^ however, 
to exceed the woody region. Three volcanoes rise from it : 
first, in the north, the Aringiiay, in the territory of the Ygor- 
rotes, in the province of Ilocos, which, on the 4th of January 
1641, broke out at the same time with the volcano of lolo, and 
the Sanguil, in the south of Magindanao, on which occasion 
this island presented one of the most terrible scenes recorded in 
history -j- ; the noise was heard on the continent of Cochin- 
China. Secondly, the volcano de Taal, which particularly 
threatens the capital, from which it is distant a day’s journey.; 
and, lastly, the far-seen May on, near the Embocadera de San 
Bernardino, between Albay and Camarines. 
Gold, iron, and copper-mines, which are very rich, but nc^ 
glected, shew that there are other mountains as well as volcanic 
ones. On the way we went, we saw no other than volcanic tuff, 
consisting of ashes, pumice-stones, and dross ; and, in Manilla, 
Cavite, Taal, Balayan, &c,, no other stone for building but 
this same tuff and calcareous reef-stone, procured from the sea. 
The granite, used in Manilla for building, is brought here a,s 
hallast, from the coast of China. 
As you go from Cavite, southward towards Taal, the land 
insensibly and gradually rises till you reach the eminences on 
the other side, which are rugged and steep, and from which 
you may overjook, at your feet, the Laguna de Bonborig, and 
* From Kotzebue’s Voyage of Discovery., vol. iii, p, 52. 
The Journals of Manilla mention the destructive earthquakes, in the year 
ahts and 16 IS- 
