Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-10
A Trip to the Volcano TaaI


on the island of Luzon in the
Philippine archipelago. 1t is the
lowest volcano in the world, rising only
1850 feet above the ocean level and 500
feet above the surface of the lake
which surrounds it. It is fifty miles
from Manila and the surrounding
country is very wild, making a trip to
it very hard thing to accomplish.
But we must start at the beginning,
or the city of Manila, which is a large
city divided into many parts. The
walled city is the Oldest part, Or Ma
Mia proper. It's surrounded by a
large stone wall and moat. This was
once great protection against the in
vasions of hostile tribes, but to our
modern guns it is hardly any barrier.
As the tribes surrounding Manila
grew more friendly the city began to
grow, the more adventurous people
building their homes and places Of
business outside the friendly protec-
ton of the walls, until now the larger
part of Manila is outside of these walls.
This newer part of the city is divided
into districts such as San Mateo,
San. Anna, etc.
The Pasig river flows through the
middle of the city and is crossed by
several bridges. 1t flows from Laguna
de Bay. large inland lake about
twelve miles from Manila, and it's wa
tiers are very treacherous and dirty.
Ascending the Pasig
When everything was ready for the
start to the volcano we took a small
launch at Manila and steamed slowly
up this dirty little river with it's green
banks and its many little villages
which line them. Each village has a
church, a Roman Catholic church, for
rI1v
This church is always the principal
structure of the town. 1t is built Of
huge stones, so massive that it resem-
bles a stronghold more than a church,
and in fact is often used for one in
times of trouble.
AS we assembled the river the land
grew marshier and so the houses were
built upon stills, the floors being six
or seven feet from the ground. The
marshes increase until there is only
the tall grass growing above the sur
face of the water. This grass is the
abode of thousands of insect pests.
But this did not last long. We soon
came out into the Laguna de Bay, a
large and beautiful lake, with many
islands rising from it's waters. Our
little steamer went straight across this
lake until it reached Los Banos, where
we disembarked. Having friends
among the people at the fort we stayed
there all night, for we could go no
farther that day.
The Tropical Sunrise
The next morning came with all the
brightness of a tropical sunrise and we
were up and doing with the first rays
of light Again taking boat we were
carried across a small arm of the la
guna to the town of Calamba. The
landing in this town is a very difficult
proposition. Stepping from the launch
into a small canoe which is bobbing
around on the water, you are padded
toward the shore until the canoe
grounds, but the water is still knee
deep. This matter is soon settled, for
the passengers mount on the wabbly
shoulders of wiry little natives and are
carried ashore. 1t takes two natives
to carry very stout person, but an
average sized person is easily carried
by one man.
Upon entering the town of Calamba
we found it a typical Philippine town,
with its many chickens and pigs wan
dering aimlessly about the streets and
the little naked children playing in the
. same walloWs with the little native
pigs. The market hour was in full
swing and all the goods were on dis
play. 1t is not a pretty sight or a nice
smelling affair. One of the greatest Of
native delicacies is small fish which
is kept until half rotted and then sold
and eaten with great relish by the ma
tives.
Having a long trip yet ahead of us
that day we did not stay in Calamba
any length of time-just long enough
to transfer our baggage from the boat
to the waiting wagon which was 20
take us for an eighteen-mile drive
across the country to Lake Taal.
ambulances and mules and we were ac-
companied by two American soldiers
and native guide. The guide knew
no English and did not even know the
road, so served as cook during the lat
ter part of the journey. But the sol
dior ooY1aa To tho rocol1o apd VIZ "