and shrubby vegetation. I was struck by the immense number of
ferns that grew by the side of the road. Their variety seemed
endless, and I was continually stopping to admire some new and
interesting forms. I could now well understand what I had been
told by the gardener, that 300 species had been found on this one
mountain. A little before noon we reached the small plateau of
Tjiburong, at the foot of the steeper part of the mountain, where
there is a plank-house for the accommodation of travellers. Close
by is a picturesque waterfall and a curious cavern, which I had
not time to explore. Continuing our ascent the road became
narrow, rugged and steep, winding zigzag up the cone, which is
covered with irregular masses of rock, and overgrown with a dense
luxuriant but less lofty vegetation. We passed a torrent of water
which is not much lower than the boiling point, and has a most
singular appearance as it foams over its rugged bed, sending up
clouds of steam, and often concealed by the overhanging herbage
of ferns and lycopodia, which here thrive with more luxuriance
than elsewhere.

At about 7,500 feet we came to another hut of open bamboos, at a
place called Kandang Badak, or "Rhinoceros-field," which we were
going to make our temporary abode. Here was a small clearing,
with abundance of tree-ferns and some young plantations of
Cinchona. As there was now a thick mist and drizzling rain, I did
not attempt to go on to the summit that evening, but made two
visits to it during my stay, as well as one to the active crater
of Gedeh. This is a vast semicircular chasm, bounded by black
perpendicular walls of rock, and surrounded by miles of rugged
scoria-covered slopes. The crater itself is not very deep. It
exhibits patches of sulphur and variously-coloured volcanic