370 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGEAPHY AND TEAYEL 
The most important mountains are chiefly in the northern 
part, but Mount Alas, which has the greatest altitude, is 
situated about the middle of the island near the south 
coast, and is stated to reach the height of 12,250 feet. 
Another fine peak is Kabalaki, about 10,000 feet, not 
far from Dilli. The chief mountain in Dutch territory 
is Lakan (6500 feet). It was for long supposed that 
Timor was without volcanoes, but this is not the case, 
and there have been recent eruptions both in the eastern 
and western parts of the island. Mr. Scrope in his work 
on volcanoes speaks of Timor Peak as a mountain of 
great height, continually active before the year 1638, 
when it was blown up during an eruption and the peak 
replaced by a crater-lake. Before this occurrence the 
mountain was said to be visible 300 miles off, which, if 
true, would imply that it was the loftiest in the archi¬ 
pelago. Earthquakes are rather frequent, and mud 
volcanoes exist in Semang and Landu islands. 
Mr. Forbes speaks of the country at some distance 
inland from Dilli as presenting the most bizarre and 
fantastic appearance from the limestone formation pre¬ 
valent in that region. Superimposed clays make land¬ 
slips extraordinarily frequent, and he regards road-making 
as almost impossible in many places for this reason. 
The paths are deep ditches along which the ponies pass 
in single file, now ascending, now descending the abrupt 
ravines which are so marked a feature of the island. 
Iron occurs, as well as copper and gold, the two latter 
probably being abundant, and coal and petroleum are 
also found. The rivers are numerous but not navigable, 
and from the excessive drought of the dry season and 
the porous nature of the soil many at that time of year 
do not reach the sea. No lakes of any size are 
known. 
