bottom of its basin. On the northeast end there is
a large solfatara, like the one we passed in coming
down to the lake, but larger. Here it was that the
Italian count, Carlo de Vidua, who had travelled over
a large part of the globe, met with a misfortune that
caused his untimely death. He ventured too far on
the soft, hot clay, and sank in, and before the natives,
who had cautioned him against going there, could
take him out, he was burned so badly that he died
in a short time afterward at Amboina, whither he
was taken, that he might be cared for in the best
possible manner. He had travelled over a considerable
portion of our own continent, and, after
escaping many imminent dangers, ventured in this
spot too far. Such is the history of many a daring
traveller, and no one who comes out here, where on
the sea there are pirates, and on the land earthquakes
and savage beasts, and in some places still
more savage men, can know at what moment he is
planning a fatal voyage, or when he is taking the step
that may be his last. Yet some one must take this
risk if the limited boundaries of our knowledge of
these remote lands are ever to be extended.
Although the water of this lake is largely impregnated
with sulphur and other substances that
rise up through its bottom, yet Dr. Bleeker found
two kinds of fish here, OpTiioc&phalus sPriatus, Bl.,
and Arrabas sccmdens, Cuv., and an eel, Anguilla
El/pTivnstonei, Syk., which are also found in the fresh
waters of Java and Sumatra, and in India. Returning
to the main road, we continued on to Sonder, and,
passing through a part of the village, came to the
ruma negri, a public-house for any officer who chances
to come to that place. This house is said to be
far better even than any of the same, kind in Java.
It stands at the end of a long, beautifully-shaded
avenue. The road is bordered with a narrow band
of grass, neatly clipped, and the sidewalks are of a
white earth, which has been brought from some distance.
A fine grove surrounds the house, and here
are many camarina or cassowary-trees, the long,
needle-like leaves of which closely resemble the
downy plumage of that strange bird. This evening,
as the full moon shines through the foliage, the
whole grove is transformed into an enchanted place.