LAND OF GREAT VALUE 
observe to the northeast of that range great blocks of 
eruptive rock much perforated, in which were embedded 
pellets of yellow lava and of red and black baked igneous 
rock. On examining the northeastern end of the main 
part of the range, it was apparent that what remained 
standing before us was merely one half of a circular crater, 
the other half of which had collapsed or had been blown up 
by volcanic action. The bottom of the crater was subse¬ 
quently filled with alluvial deposits, and there was now 
a grassy plain with a few burity palms. In the valley 
before us was ideal pasture land, which will some day be 
of great value. 
We crossed two cols (elevation 1,550 feet) with a 
beautiful plain between. Then we descended into a third 
lovely valley on the north side of the outer wall of the 
crater. The grazing was perfect for the animals. 
Clusters of vigorous, healthy, burity palms stood in great 
numbers in the centre and at the sides of the valley. This 
great valley was bounded by two ridges extending in a 
northerly direction — two spurs, as it were. The rounded, 
channelled, outer sides of the crater to the north would 
tend to strengthen the theory that those slopes were for¬ 
merly a gradual continuation of the present inclined valley. 
On those slopes of the mountain Hardly any vegetation 
could be noticed, perhaps owing to the fact that hard vol¬ 
canic rock existed under the thin surface padding of 
yellowish earth. 
The valley was buried in red and grey lapilli and ashes, 
finely broken up marble cubes, and fragments of other 
forms of crystallized rock. 
As we proceeded from camp Fogasso, the northern 
slopes of the crater became divided into huge furrows, the 
vertical upper part of the crater displaying vivid, rich, 
red tones. The crater was castellated at the summit, like 
the walls of a fortress. 
The geological formation of that portion of the Matto 
153 
