TOPOGEAPHY OF THE PHILIPPINES. 



269 



importance. Unfortunately the climate is so unhealthy that some hundreds of 

 convicts sent to clear the ground in the vicinity of the rising town all died of 

 fever. 



The ancient city of ^ulu, at the western extremity of the island of like 

 name, has also become a Spanish station, and the descendant of the dreaded 

 sultans who ruled the whole archipelago together with North Borneo, is now 

 nothing more than an obscure pensioner of the Philippine Government. His 

 capital has lost all its industries, and the famous krisses made at this place are 

 now replaced by weapons of English or German manufacture. 



In the large island of Paragua or Palawan, Spain also maintains two military 



Fig. 118. — SuLu Archipelago. 

 Scale 1 : 2,250,000. 



Easb oP Greenwich 



0to25 

 Fathoms. 



25 to 100 

 Fathoms. 



Depths. 



100 to 1.000 

 Fathoms. 



1,000 to 2,000 

 Fathoms. 



, 30 Miles. 



2 000 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



stations : Tay-fay, near the northern extremity on a well- sheltered inlet, and 

 Puer to- Prince sa, on a fine natural harbour on the east coast. The forests in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of the latter station are still occupied by the Tagbanvihoy, 

 wild tribes of Malay origin, and the mountains of the interior are inhabited by 

 the Bataks, who are supposed to be of Negrito stock. 



In the island of Balabac, facing the Bornean archipelago of Banguay, the only 

 centre of population is a mere village, while the islets studding the China Sea 

 farther west are uninhabited. 



