The Yale expositor., 1910-05-20

FW started for the Taal volcano,
bright and early. IL was nee
essary to start from shore in
bancas and to crawl from them into a
little steam launch, and to board ii as
IL bobbed up while the bancas dipped
low in the trough of the swells re-
CURED an acrobatic feat of no small
merit, but once on board the 16-horse
power engine drove us rapidly to our
destination.
Lake Bombon has an area of $50
square miles. Some scientists be-
ieve that 1t originated in the collapse
OF volcanic cone; others think that
it may have been formed by an explo-
sion. Out of its center rises Volcan
island, which is four and half miles
In diameter and comprises several
small extinct craters and a main GEN.
trail and active one, which is known
a Taal volcano. Seen from a distance
the green at its base is imperceptible
ard the sight is an impressive one. On
every side of the lake are high peaks
clothed in brilliant green, and the APP
pearance of the CHASTITY gray cone out
of the dancing waters is like death at
an al fresco fete.
After landing on the island II takes
half an hours walk through winding
paths, STOPPING to escape the sharp
mesquite branches, bending low under
the tortuous arms OF banyan trees, and
skirting the sides of wild hogs wal
lows before emerging on a clearing
from where the ascent begins in earn
est over rugged volcanic rock and
scoriae. After 20 minutes hard climb
ing the summit is reached, whence a
good view OF the crater may be OBJ
tanned. Standing on its edge. the view
is over an elliptical plain 1867 feet in
its greatest diameter from east to
west, and 6,333 feet in its lesser from
north to south. A solid ridge of rock
runs through the middle of the crater,
terminating at one end in a pool CO.
vered with a yellow film of sulphur,
where seething bubbles break the sur
face.
On one side of this ridge the stag
nant waters of another pool are broken
by occasional ripples, while at ones
feet stretches plain of mud and sui
phur Astounding in treacherous quick
sands; here and there large indenta-
tons in its surface show where bowl
ders have recently been swallowed up
Farther along two lagunas bubble
angrily, from both of which heavy
spouts of boiling water and clouds of
steam rise at regular intervals. The
level of these pools is approximately
that OF Lake Bombon itself, and here
is the volcanoes center Of activity The
huge volumes of steam are accompa-
MED by muffled roar and the Kissing
of boiling water may be plainly heard,
while pounding and splashing indicate
that rocks are ascending and descend
ing, although they usually cannot be
seen on account of the dense clouds.
On the southwest side the crater
wall rises steep and forbidding to a
height Of 1907 feet above Lake Bom-
bon. It's summit at this point is rug
ged and up the gray sides jets of
steam isue constantly, gentle remind
ers of latent possibilities. To the north
the walls, glowing with marvellous
colors, tower $50 feet Above the in
terror lake. The suns rays sparkling
over the pink and orange-tinted rocks
delight the eye, while the greens and
blues blend gently into the shadows.
making = most fantastic picture.
Distances here are most deceptive.
A stone thrown with full force from
the summit, In the direction of the la.
guna. instead of crossing the sea of
mud and dropping into the foaming
waters will presently be heard dash
ing against the side of the cliff under.
meath, and that. too, when there is
no breeze to thwart its course.
The priests Of Taal have chronicled
the many eruptions of this volcano
The earliest known published refer.
ence to it is by Father Gaspar de San
Augustin, written in 1850. The first
historic outbreak is placed in 1872. In
1716 and 1871 much damage was done
and In 1749, during an outbreak which
lasted three weeks, the land as far as
Calamba, in Laguna de Bay, was d.
videu with tremendous noise Batangas
province is scanned with great lateral
chasms. originating in this period
whose singular beauty makes them
one of the most interesting sights in
the country. They make a charming
variation In the landscape, with wavine
bamboos growing up their sides, and
here and there a mantle OF purple
morning glories screening SHARP
angle, while away down in their COO
depths quantities of ferns grow along
the course of a gentle stream.
The greatest outbreak OF Taal vol
cano occurred I'm 1854, when the vii
lagos of Taal. LIpa and Tannan, al
then on the border OF Lake Bombon
disappeared. IL began on May 10 and
lasted until December 1. Father Buen