A GEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE FROM INFANTA, 

 TAYABAS, TO TANAY, RIZAL. 



By H. M. ICKIS.^ 

 {From the Division of Mines, Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I.) 



During the hot season of 1907, the writer made a reconnaissance in 

 the Camarines and examined the coal beds on the Islands of Polillo. 

 Eetnrning to Manila from Polillo, he arrived in May at Infanta on the 

 Pacific coast of Luzon. The nearest well-known route of travel overland 

 from this coast to Manila is from Mauban, a port 60 kilometers south 

 of Infanta, by the way of Lucban and Majaj'jay to Pagsanjan on Laguna 

 de Bay ; at Pagsanjan a boat may be taken to Manila. There is, however, 

 an unfrequented trail from Infanta to Sinaloan on the lake, and Lieut. 

 George W. Wray, commanding the Thirty-second Company Philippine 

 Scou.ts, informed me that the Negritos who inhabit the mountain country 

 near Infanta sometimes travel up the' Agos Eiver and thence across a 

 low range of hills to Tanay on Laguna de Bay. It was decided to 

 attempt to travel by the latter route, and, with the aid of Lieut. Wray 

 and Dr. B. B. Warriner, P. S., the services of the Negi'ito presidente, 

 David, the teniente of one of the barrios, two Negrito guides, four expert 

 Negrito lanqueros^ and one Tagalog cargador were secured. 



Two light iancas were procured which were used to transport a small 

 amount of baggage and food, and to ferry the party across the river 

 when it was necessary to cross where the water was too deep for the men 

 to wade. Onlj' expert hanqueros can manage a banca in this river; the 

 two men stand up in the unsteady craft poling it against the current 

 and do not attempt to use paddles. Coming downstream, however, the 

 Negritos shoot the rapids like Indians, steering dexterously with a 

 paddle to avoid the many dangerous rocks. 



The iancas were left hidden a short distance above the junction of 

 the Canaan with the Agos, since it was slow work moving them up the 

 numerous rapids and as it was thought that the river above could be 

 waded whenever it might be necessary to cross. 



The equipment carried by the party was very light: no tents were 

 taken and the soldiers and cargadores carried no blankets or extra cloth- 

 ing; the mess outfit consisted of an iron pot to be used in cooking rice 



^ Posthumous publication. 

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