88 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



The island is divided into six provinces, the largest 

 and most populous of which is Misamis, extending along 

 the north coast between E. long. 123° and 125°, the 

 chief town, also called Misamis, Ijeing situated in a deep 

 inlet of Iligan Bay, forming a secure harbour. East of 

 this, occupying the whole northern peninsula, is Surigao, 

 at the extremity of which is the chief town of the same 

 name. On the east coast is Bislig, a small province, and 

 of less importance even than Davao, a little explored 

 territory around the gulf of that name. Cota Batu, 

 wrongly written Cottabatto by the Spaniards, embraces 

 not only the larger part of the southern land-mass of the 

 island, but also the country around Illana Bay. Its 

 capital, formerly termed Mindanao, is situated a short 

 distance up the Piio Grande. Another Spanish settle- 

 ment, Pollok, ten miles farther north, was at one time 

 connected with it by an excellent road, but, like other 

 undertakings in the Philippines, it has been neglected, 

 and is now impassable. There are few settlers here, and 

 the population is chiefly composed of the garrison and 

 the officers of the gunboats, of which one or two are 

 always kept on the station to watch the movements of 

 suspicious craft on the neighbouring coast, which does 

 not bear the best of reputations. Of all the Spanish 

 settlements, however, Zamboanga is the best known. 

 Lying at the entrance of the Sulu Sea, and guarding the 

 Strait of Basilan, it is frequently made a port of call. 

 It was established in 1635, and is of some size and 

 commercial importance, boasting of being the healthiest 

 town in the archipelago. Its inhabitants are chiefly 

 half castes, descended from Tagal women and Spaniards, 

 and speak pure but old-fashioned Spanish. The total 

 population of Mindanao is estimated to be about 

 650,000. 



