Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-23

From this mountain house saddle ponies
were taken and the ascent up the circuit
Gus road through the iungles Of the Ieug-
ger mountains became not only physical
but also an exciting adventure. Tropical
life and marvellous growths continued 10
make the climb varied and a family Of
| wild monkeys exercising in the matted
spread Of a banyan tree was us common as
the flight of a brilliantly plummed bird
whose flowing tail was no less long than his
colors were varied.
The path in some stretches was actually
impossible to an ordinary horse but with
the help of regularly laid bamboo poles
across the path these sure-footed ponies used
them as steps and ones trust in his steed
became almost careless confidence. The
soil was a black clay and whenever the
grade was a descent this peculiar soil, es-
pecialy if the daily shower had Just passed,
was a veritable chute, too slippery and
hard to be scratched.
When in this condition the descent be-
came an equestrian exhibition for the dis
tances between the bamboo steps when one
happened to be missing made it necessary
for the pony to slide from one TO the other,
and the momentum developed coupled with
the uncertainty of the resisting power of
the next bamboo bar rendered the expert
ence too interesting to belittle.
As the altitude increased cultivation was
more marked aud instead of an impenetra..
BILE Jungle, a bower Of wild white lilies, twice
the size OF our Easter lilies separated the
road from the coffee and vegetable planta-
tons which covered the mountain sides TO
the very top. These Teugger mountains
are the homes of primitive, crude, indus
trious sect Of Javenese whose loyalty to
. l.s.. gll Ill 70 - -
tives before the advance and acceptance of
Mohammedanism which now predominates
among the natives Of Java Here in the
mountains they fled and have since lived in
independence aud peace as the rightful. I'M
disputed possessors of a once undesirable,
impregnable mountain range. Expressive
of their universal religious devotion they
always build the long side Of their bamboo
houses 10 face the volcano Bromo, which
they worship and hold sacred, making a
pilgrimage to it once a year.
As the top of the mountains are neared
and the level of the clouds is below. there
appears panorama of the whole of east
ern Java and the surrounding sea which is
interrupted only by the towering volcanic
peaks which seem to vie with one another
IN their attempt to appear majestic. On
the very top of the first range is the little
village of Tosari with a comfortable hotel
which furnishes the sun stepped travellers
of the tropic sufficient blankets to make an
appreciation Of the cool climate 5000 feet
above the sea an acceptable luxury.
night at Tosari aud 5 A. NJ. departure
for Bromo " finds one again climbing
seemingly to unreasonable attitudes al
though tropical vegetation and cultivation
continues, whereas, a similar height in the
temperate zones would find barren naked
ness and snow. With suddenness natu-
rally expected when the actual ton is
reached, the anticipated sight of the coun-
try on the other side of the mountain is
not overrated or disappointing.
tar IN the distance appeared the smok-
ing cone of Sameroe," Java's Hottest vol
cano, reputed to be II 900 feet high. and
below us, rising out of a broad sea of sand
ana volcano cinders, rose the three volcanic
craters of Batok and Bromo, These ribhad
lava browned domes void of all vegetation
and symmetrical from base TO crater ara
now comparatively inactive, but the occa-
sional eruptions of Bromo and the constant
roaring from its crater make the volumes
OF steam and sulphurous smoke which il
continually throws out from the boiling
crevlces IN its center interesting and we'll
worth the effort of a climb to the crater's
eoge' powerfully significant of the works
oil God and intensely interesting geologi-
cally, the destinations and mesmeric attrsc-
tioh OF seething, steaming, threatening
crater mas hardly comparable parallel in
my mind, and surely nothing can be mere
sukgest OF mans insignifcance and
weakness. anu
Inc region around the sand sea which is
enclosed by precipitous wall of a volcanic
creation is wild and little inhabited r.
IaV1otnaole lakes harboring monsters of
P i1SisSorlc Vltnes are numerous, packs of
"nS Jugs ana horses are not infreouent
anu une appearance of tigers is always an
eAPecteu realization. Such, however. il
was my good fortune to miss meeting, but
90 Ine country was immensely fitted for
suo1 innospitaole creatures, l thoroughly
oreul1 tne reputation the section holds and
on ooncenV 10 leave more complete cor
roooratlon of the facts for others To ferro.
Ie unusual cries and uncanny shrieks
"hich constantly testified to the nrasanoa
of immense lizards and horned tos5s r,L;oe
oler 1 themselves fearlessly for inspection.
lief ''AS' al easy be-
This trip of three days from soersbav.
70 promo and return is the finest in Jays
anu representative of everything naturallv
;aNt yPicahy Javanese, and for the sub
- p anu soverelgns of the island journey
W promo Is as important an event in the
M;lo'N' 7, Ul thelr country as a visit to
niagara Falls is to an American
4, from an lncessant heat of 90 degrees 70
Sne cola OF Iosari l find my continued
health blessing. '''iueu