11 



breadtli iu the lower part being in the neighborhood of 90 kilometers, 

 and the upper half, containing most of the sugar lands, var}dng from 

 40 to 60 kilometers. The total area of the island is probably not 

 exactly known; it has been stated by different authorities to be from 

 9,000 to 12,500 square kilometers. 



MOUNTAINS. 



By far the greater part of this area is occupied by mountainous or 

 hilly forest lands, which are uncultivated, except for occasional small 

 patches, "caingins," burned and planted for a season or so in corn 

 by the semiwild mountain people. These mountains extend for the 

 entire length of the island from north to south, but are much nearer 

 to the east than to the west coast. The land itself is of volcanic 

 origin, and the highest peak, Mount Canloan, is still partially active 

 to the extent of sending forth occasional puffs of smoke. 



But one river, the Danao, is navigable for vessels of any consider- 

 able draft, and this lies in the mountainous, extreme northeastern part 

 of the island, which is of little importance for sugar production Three 

 others— the Bago, the Binalbagan, and the Hog — penetrate important 

 sugar districts and permit entrance by flat-bottomed sugar "lorchas" 

 for distances of from 5 to 10 kilometers. Countless other small streams 

 break up the entire coast line of the island, but they are of very 

 little importance except where they occasionally serve as sheltered land- 

 ing places for small boats. It is owing to this lack of large rivers 

 and harbors suitable for seagoing craft that no sugar is exported 

 directly from Xegros, but all is taken across in small sailing boats to 

 lloilo, the nearest large port. In fact the town of Iloilo owes its 

 existence largely to the sugar industry of Xegros. 



The following data compiled by the Weather Bureau show the monthly 

 maximum, minimum, and average temperature and rainfall at two 

 meteorologic stations in Occidental Negros, one during the period 

 1891-1898 at La Carlota (La Granja Modelo), the other during 1903- 

 1908 at Bacolod. In a country so broken by mountains as is J^egros, 

 the rainfall is especially liable to local variation, and it is no un- 

 common occurrence for one plantation to be without rain for several 

 weeks, while a neighboring one may be enjoying daily showers. This 

 is especially true in the northern and eastern parts of the island. N"o 

 meteorologic station has been established as yet in Oriental Negros. 



