CHAPTER III 



THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



1. General. 



The Philippines, the most valuable and extensive colonial 

 possessions of Spain, extend almost due north and south 

 from Formosa to Borneo and the Moluccas, embracing an 

 extent of 16° of latitude and 9° of longitude. To the 

 north the nearest land is the island of Formosa, distant 

 about 175 miles. From Manila to Hongkong is 2^ 

 days by steamer. To the west lies Cochin Chma, to the 

 south Borneo and Celebes, and to the east the open 

 sea. To the south and west the Sulu group and Palawan 

 project like horns to within a few miles of the coast of 

 Borneo, enclosing the deep basin known as the Sulu or 

 Mindoro Sea. But though a series of stepping-stones are 

 thus formed which would seem to indicate a recent union 

 with that island, a closer examination does not confirm 

 this idea. For the soundings in the Mindoro Strait, to 

 the north of Palawan, although as yet incomplete, reveal 

 a depth of 600 to 700 fathoms, while between Sibutu 

 and Tawi-tawi Islands, in the Sulu group, a similar channel 

 exists, though of less depth. This, and the shallowness of 

 the sea between Borneo and Paltiw^an, appear to point to the 

 conclusion that the latter is really Bornean rather than 



