8-1 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



is hilly and volcanic, with abundant streams and a fertile 

 soil, the chief product of which is tobacco, although 

 almost all the crops usually cultivated in the archipelago 

 are grown. It is united with the small island of 

 Siquihor to form the province of Bohol, whose popula- 

 tion, according to the latest census, numbers no less than 

 277,387 souls. The capital town is Tagbiloran, and 

 there are fowr 2yueUos of over 10,000 inhabitants. The 

 density of the population is, in fact, nearly as great as 

 that of Zebu and Panay. The people are all Bisayans. 

 Siquihor is notable for possessing an active or semi-active 

 volcano. 



Masbate. 



Off the southern end of Luzon, and forming with 

 Ticao Island a province of that government, is Masbate, 

 partly peopled by Bicols and partly by Bisayans. It is 

 rather smaller than Bohol, having an area of about 1200 

 square miles. A crescent-shaped mountain chain of con- 

 siderable elevation occupies the middle of the island, 

 probably composed of ancient crystalline rocks, as the 

 river sands produce a considerable quantity of gold, and 

 copper is also found. It possesses several good harbours, 

 but in spite of this and its potential mineral wealth it is 

 sparsely inhabited and cultivated, and has little or no 

 trade. 



Mindanao. 



Mindanao, or Magindano as it was formerly called, is 

 the most southern of the Philippines. In size it is 

 scarcely inferior to Luzon, having a total area of 37,680 

 square miles. In shape it is very irregular, its outline 

 being broken on every side by deep bays and gulfs. Its 

 rough measurements from north to south and from east 



