1844.] ISLAND OF MINDANAO. 105 



that they are the resorts of the pirates which infest these 

 seas. Although there is a large salt lagoon in the largest 

 Panagatan island, we did not succeed in finding fresh 

 water upon any of the group ; it is, however, evidently 

 visited by fishermen from the neighbourhing islands ; its 

 position will be found in the Appendix. 



Quitting Panagatan, we passed along the western coast 

 of Panay, running over several spots where dangers had 

 been reported without meeting any signs calling for fur- 

 ther search, and on the evening of the 7th found our- 

 selves off the Island of Mindanao, or Magindanao of the 

 old charts. On the following morning we had a fine 

 view of this very picturesque and lofty island ; the light 

 airs prevented our making much progress through the 

 water, but a strong southerly current swept us quietly 

 along, disclosing at every irregularity of the coast-line, 

 inviting spots in the valleys apparently cleared for culti- 

 vation by the hand of man, and what is always deeply 

 interesting to wanderers like ourselves, occasional symp- 

 toms of rills of clear water, where this important neces- 

 sary of life could be procured free from the customary 

 contaminations occasioned by the proximity of a town. 



The lofty heights of Mindanao appeared to afford more 

 than ordinary interest to our contemplation at the pre- 

 sent moment ; frequently bright yeUow spots of cleared 

 land presented themselves on the gentle swellings of the 

 hills immediately below the lofty ranges, and already 

 aware of the wild and independent character of the 

 natives of the interior, our glasses were not unfrequently 

 directed in search of the abodes of the Aborigines ; the 

 stock, probably, from whence the lawless and much 



