TOPOGKA.PHT OF THE PHILIPPINES. 265 



Balanga, facing Manilla on tlie west side of the bay, is followed round the 

 intervening promontory by the well- sheltered port of Mariveles, which gives its 

 name to the neighbouring volcano. Beyond it is the harbour of Subig, said to be 

 the safest in the Philippines, being protected on three sides by the southern head- 

 lands of the Zambales Mountains. Iba, capital of the province, lies on a dangerous 

 creek a little farther north. In the spacious Lingayen Bay are several excellent 

 havens, notably that of Suai, which, though now opened to international trade, is 

 still little frequented by shipping. The rugged Zambales highlands and the lack 

 of communications with the interior prevent trade from being attracted to this part 

 of the Luzon seaboard. The large town of Lingayen, whence the bay takes its 

 name, lies between Sual and the port of Dagupan, on a branch of the Agno Grande 

 delta. In the interior of this basin, which comprises the three provinces of 

 Benguet, Tarlac, and Pangasinan, the chief town is San-Miguel de Camiling, where 

 several tribes of distinct speech are conterminous. 



Along the north-west coast follow several considerable towns, such as Santo- 

 Tomas, Aringay, San-Fernando, and Vigan, this last in the delta of the Abra river. 

 Laoag, near the north-west corner of Luzon, ranks next to Manilla for population, 

 although it possesses no harbour, nor any resources beyond the agricultural pro- 

 duce of the surrounding district. Beyond this point the seaboard is nearly unin- 

 habited, the population of Luzon being mostly concentrated on the west side facing 

 the Asiatic mainland. Even in the basin of the Cagayan, the most copious river 

 in the Philippines, the only large towns are Tuguagarao and Lallo, formerly Nueva- 

 Segovia, which in recent times has acquired some importance as the depot for the 

 best tobacco grown in the archipelago. Ajxirri, the port of this place, stands on 

 the right side of the Cagayan estuary. 



Then for 420 miles along the northern and eastern coasts of Luzon no seaport 

 occurs until Bina)Hjonan is reached, in about the latitude of Manilla over against 

 the island of Polillo. The Babuyanes and Batanes groups between North Luzon 

 and Formosa are almost uninhabited, although favourably situated near the ocean 

 highway between Hong-Kong and Sydney. This route is longer but safer, and, 

 consequently, more frequented than that of Torres Strait and the intricate waters 

 of the eastern archipelago. 



Marigondon, Barayan, and Taal, on the west side of Luzon below Manilla, all 

 lie in extremely fertile and highly cultivated districts. Here also Batangas, one 

 of the largest towns in the archipelago, occupies a position of vital importance at 

 the entrance of San-Bernardino Channel, the great commercial highway between 

 Luzon, the Yisayas Islands, and Mindanao. On the north side of Mindoro, nearly 

 opposite Batangas, lies Calapan, round which are grouped nearly all the inhabi- 

 tants of this island. 



Along the narrow Camarines peninsula follow several busy marts, such as 

 Tayabas and Mauban, on a roadstead well sheltered by the islet of Alabat. But 

 here the population is concentrated chiefly in the basin of the river Vicol, where 

 are crowded together the rural towns of Camalig, Gifinobafan, Ligao, Oas, Polangui, 

 and Libong, each with over twelve thousand inhabitants, though distant less than 



