Among the sceneries are the Guinulajon waterfalls, near the capital, the wild vegetation and the cataracts along the Irosin River, the medicinal hot springs of Mombon, Bujan, and Mapaso, together with the beautiful panorama from the Bulusan Volcano are especially striking. Like Mount Vesuvius, Mount Bulusan has an old crater, and a new cone that has appeared on the slopes. Inside the crater, about 500 feet deep, are two pools of hot water which form the basin from which the Irosin River rises. A great event in the history of Sorsogon was the invention of a hemp-stripping machine by a priest named Espellargas, about 1669. The invention was made in Bacon, where it seems hemp then abounded. The contrivance was ingeniously constructed and was quite well adapted to local conditions. [Historical Incidents] Many of the galleons that the Spanish Government used in the Manila-Acapulco trade were built in Sorsogon, especially on the Island of Bagatao, at the entrance of Sorsogon Bay. Many of these ships were wrecked while navigating the waters of Sorsogon, because they laid their course for Mexico via the San Bernardino Strait, a passage which abounds in dangerous currents, shoals, and rocks. The galleon San Cristobal was wrecked in 1733 near the Calantas Rock. In 1793, the galleon Magallanes also ran aground at this place. Other vessels went down in this neighborhood from time to time, as the Santo Cristo de Burgos, in 1726, near Ticao, and the San Andres, in 1798, near Naranja Island. [Volcanoes] Peerless Mayon of the perfect cone is in Albay, the volcano of Isarog in Ambos Camarines, and Bulusan in Sorsogon. For those who love mountain climbing, the ascent to the peak of Mayon Volcano should not be missed. The actual ascent, though arduous, is perfectly practicable. It requires from a day and a half to two days from Albay. By leaving the latter place on horseback at noon it is possible to ride one-third of the way up before dark. Leaving the horses at the camping place, the summit can be reached and the return trip made to Albay on the following day. A vivid description of the trip, written by Dr. Paul C. Freer, Director of the Bureau of Science, follows: