A RECONNAISSANCE FROM DAVAO, MINDANAO, OVER 



THE DIVIDE OF THE SAHUG RIVER TO BUTUAN, 



INCLUDING A SURVEY FROM DAVAO TO 



MATI.— NARRATIVE OF THE 



EXPEDITION. 



By Maurice Goodman. 

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



INTRODUCTION". 



Before beginning the I'econnaissance from Davao to tlie Agusan River, 

 I decided during a short absence of Mr. Ickis to make a journey from 

 Davao to Mati, in order to collect geographical and geologic data on the 

 traverse across the Pujada Peninsula. The overland route was taken 

 both going and coming. 



THE PUJADA PENINSULA. 



The start was made on January 16 from Piso on the west coast of the 

 Gulf of Davao, in a small vinta or sailboat, to the Moro village of Sumlug 

 where three Moro guides and carriers were obtained; thence we went to 

 Ivoabo, a deserted village with only a few dilapidated huts and a small 

 number of coconut trees, farther south on the east coast of the gulf. 



The coast line of this portion of Mindanao was at this time being 

 surveyed by a part)' from the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Therefore, I 

 coniined my topographical sketching to the interior. The distance be- 

 tween the Gulf of Davao at Koabo and the town of Mati on Pujada Bay 

 is approximately 21 kilometers, and between the two coasts the country 

 is entirely uncultivated and uninhabited. The trail for the most part 

 leads over a slightly hilly country, covered with a comparatively thin 

 forest growth which, however, is sufficiently dense to make observations 

 upon prominent points at any distance from the path almost impracticable. 

 The ridge forming the backbone of the peninsula wliich terminates in 

 Cape San Agustin, is rather low at this place, being less than 300 meters 

 above sea level where the trail crosses the divide. The core of this ridge 

 is of igneous origin and has undergone minor metamorphism. The 

 original, unaltered diabase, which is the most common rock encountered, 

 presents the typical ophitic straeture and contains in addition to the 



.-lOl 



