Geographical Relations and History 239 



From the foregoing it is seen that, with the exception of a few vil- 

 lages of mixed descent, all their territory lies on the western side of the 

 Cordillera Central, 1 the great mountain range which runs from north 

 to south through northern Luzon. 



As one emerges from the jungle, which covers the eastern slopes of 

 these mountains, and looks down over the province of Abra, he sees 

 an exceedingly broken land (Plates I and II), the subordinate ranges 

 succeeding one another like the waves of the sea. The first impres- 

 sion is one of barrenness. The forest vanishes, and in its place are 

 long grassy slopes, broken here and there by scattered pines and lower 

 down by dense growths of the graceful, feathery bamboo. But this 

 lack of trees is more fancied than real, for as one proceeds down any 

 of the valleys he meets with side canyons, where the tropical jungle 

 still holds sway, while many a mountain side is covered with a dense 

 undergrowth of shrubs, plants, and vines. It seems probable that the 

 forest once covered the western slopes of the mountains, but accident 

 and intention on the part of man has cleared broad sections. As soon 

 as the shade is removed, the land is invaded by a coarse grass (the 

 cogon), and this is burned over each year in order to provide feed for 

 the stock and to make good hunting grounds. The young trees are 

 killed off and reforesting prevented. 



Numerous streams plunge from the high mountains toward the 

 coast. In places they rush through deep gorges between high moun- 

 tains, again they pass peacefully through mountain valleys. Every- 

 where they are fed by minor streams and waterfalls until at last, as 

 they emerge into the broader valleys of the Abra and its tributaries, 

 they are rivers of respectable size. 



The great central valley of Abra is far from being a level plain. 

 In places, as about Manabo, Bukay, and Bangued, there are stretches 

 of level land ; but, for the most part, the country is rough and broken. 

 This valley is cut off from the sea by the Coast Range of mountains 

 which forms the provincial line between Abra and Ilocos Sur, while 

 another heavy spur forms the northern limits of Abra from Ilocos Sur 

 to the Cordillera Central. Two small and rather difficult passes af- 

 ford entrance from the coastal plain into the valley, but the chief ave- 

 nue of communication is the cut through which the Abra river reaches 

 the sea. So narrow is this entrance that, at high water, the river com- 

 pletely covers the floor and often raises its waters ten or fifteen feet up 

 the canyon side. In recent years a road has been cut in the rocks above 

 the flood waters, but even to-day most of the traffic between Abra and 



J North of Abra it is known as the Cordillera Norte. 



