346 SMITH. 



The great Island of Mindanao extends from nearly 6° 30' to 10 c north 

 latitude and from 122° 30' to 126° east longitude, a region of lofty mount- 

 ains, beautiful lakes, primeval forests, and long and deep rivers. The 

 European settlements, all on the coast, can he counted on the fingers of 

 one hand. Two military stations are located in the interior, one of 

 considerable size, the other a mere outpost. Army transports and a few 

 trading boats stop at some points to discharge cargo and land new relays 

 of troops. With the exception of the soldiers, those who visit the island 

 rarely go more than 8 to 16 kilometers inland, so that as far as the outside 

 world of commerce, tourists, and even scientists is concerned the interior, 

 with all its strange people, its latent wealth, and its magnificent scenery, 

 is but little known. 



PLAINS. 



Mindanao has not a great proportion of coastal plain. Sufficient 

 time has not elapsed for its formation to any great extent, as mountains 

 everywhere border the sea. The only coastal plain of any importance 

 is that of Zamboanga; it is confined to the lower end of the peninsula 

 of the same name and roughly is 12 by 35 kilometers in area. It has a 

 foundation of coral reef with a veneer of piedmont deposits above it. One 

 small stream, the Tumaga, straggles across it to the sea. The plain is 

 quite fertile and is the home of a large and mixed population of Moros, 

 Filipinos, Chinese, Germans, and Americans. The city of Zamboanga, 

 because of the fertility of the sorrounding plain and its exceptional situa- 

 tion, occupying a "gate" position with respect to southern Mindanao and 

 the Celebes, has risen to the first rank among the settlements of the south. 

 However, there is one factor which will always work against its greatest 

 development: the Tumaga River is not navigable into the back country, 

 which, furthermore, is exceedingly rugged and not capable of supporting 

 other than an uncertain poprdation, either of restless hill tribes as at 

 present, or of mining camps which have not yet developed. 



The only comparatively large plains in Mindanao border the Cotabato 

 and the Agus'an Rivers, which are approximately 400 and 300 kilometers 

 in length. The width of these valleys varies from only a few kilometers 

 to 50 or 60. The material constituting these river plains is for the 

 most part fine alluvium derived from many classes of rocks passed over 

 by the rivers en route. It is, of course, most excellent soil. - 



THE COTABATO PLAIN". 



Beginning at the lower end of the Rio Grande de Mindanao (Cota- 

 bato), a true delta formation is found, the river making its way across 

 this through several channels; two much larger than the others, and 

 debouching in four different places. The two main branches are the 

 Cotabato (north), and the Tamontaca (south). Between these a net- 



