1308 LEAFLETS OF PHILIPPINE BOTANY [Vor. IV, Arr. 69 
filled or strewn with bowlders of all sizes, some of which are 
large enough to dam up the entire width of the gorge. As. the 
river flows outward it makes a number of abrupt curves in order 
to avoid the hard rock masses in the minor spurs which extend 
down from the mountain ridges on both sides. Gradually it 
widens and the precipitous walls become reduced to mere rocky 
banks. The bowlders also become smaller but more numerous. 
Soon after it reaches the valley it makes a big turn and flows 
through meadow lands westward and joins the Patoo river near- 
ly at right angles a mile or two before emptying into the sea. 
The Patoo river is smaller, heads in the forested ridges of middle 
and northwestern Sibuyan and flows almost due north. These 
two rivers form by far the largest river on this island. 
The greater portion of the entire mountain mass is heavily 
forested, a marked distinction from the cogon region covering 
the greater area of Romblon and Tablas islands. Therefore, 
there is relatively little pastoral land and less agricultural land 
on Sibuyan. Most of the latter kind is in the southern part. 
On the east and northeastern side is an equal share of grazing 
and farming land. During Spanish times Magallanes exported 
considerable rice annually and the outline of the paddies is still 
noticeable. Nearly twenty five years ago a sugar plantation 
was started by wealthy Spaniards which has long since been 
abandoned. Their immense house, nearly 200 feet square, 
is inhabited by their younger countrymen who are mostly en- 
gaged in stock raising and hand lumbering. The lumber is 
chiefly sawed out of dipterocarp timbers. One species of this 
family yields considerable wood oil or “balao” for export. The 
cool and humid vicinity of Magallanes is said to be espe- 
cially favorable for raising carabao or Philippine buffaloes, rather 
than bacas or native beef cattle. In fact all of these small 
islands, including southern Mindoro and the Busuanga group 
of islands formed in the past one of the greatest cattle regions 
in the Philippines. And those who were interested in the 
cattle raising business had singular success and well earned 
their profits. 
There are passable trails along the coast clear around the 
island, no roads interiorly. Only recently the government 
built a good trail from Magallanes due southward to San Fer- 
nando by way of a small settlement called España. From 
