78 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



the island from Abra de Ylo to Mamburao, along which 

 there is a road which can be traversed in the dry season, 

 but is so flooded during the rains as to be impassable. 

 In the north-east is a lake about five miles across, which 

 lies in a depression behind the coast-range between the 

 towns of Nanjan and Pola. The floods of the wet season 

 leave an annual deposit of mud in this valley, which 

 raises its level so rapidly that the church of the old 

 town of Nanjan, situated near the lake, became buried 

 in the course of fifteen years to the top of the arch of 

 the door, and the town had to be removed to near the sea. 

 The curious Anoa depressicornis, an antelope -like 

 buffalo which is peculiar to the island of Celebes, has 

 been reported to exist in Mindoro, but Dr. Steere's recent 

 visit has shown that the wild bovine animal of the island 

 is quite a distinct and new species, although apparently 

 closely allied. The occurrence of this animal in Mindoro 

 alone of all the islands is very remarkable. The land 

 shells also show a striking peculiarity, and the avifauna, 

 if not so distinctive, nevertheless comprises many peculiar 

 species. Taking these facts into consideration, and that 

 of the existence of very deep water completely surround- 

 ing the island, it is probable that we have to do with a 

 remnant of a very much older continent, which was at 

 one time possibly connected with Celebes and land to 

 the south and east in the direction of Australia. 



Panay. 



This island is situated to the south-east of Mindoro, 

 and including Guimaras, has an area of 4831 square 

 miles. It is in shape an irregular triangle, and the 

 island of Guimaras to the south-east appears to have once 

 formed a part of it. A chain of mountains runs from 



