356 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



its hills are generally devoid of forests, though there appears to be 

 abundance of wood growing in the valleys or gorges which separate 

 the broken surface of this island. The highest ridge visible on the 

 western side was found to be 3000 feet ; those on the east side 

 were not visible, from clouds, and undoubtedly are much higher, 

 though I question their being as high as they are reported to be : if 

 their altitude had been 7000 feet, I think we should have seen them 

 during our stay off the island. The channel on the west side of the 

 island is from 12 to 20 miles wide, and entirely free of shoals; 

 by keeping within it, the wind will be more or less favorable, either 

 up or down the coast : its trend is north and south, and has but few 

 indentations. The small island of Bagbatan lies 30 miles south of 

 Point Potol; from thence to Antique Point, is 45 miles. The coast 

 takes a sweep to the eastward, making a considerable indentation, 

 but there is no anchorage or even soundings to be obtained until close 

 to the shore. The island is dotted with neat villages ; the steeples of 

 the churches are conspicuous, and the telegraphic stations occupy all 

 the prominent peaks. At Antique Roads there is anchorage close 

 to the shore. The point of land projects a small distance, and with a 

 small creek, gives shelter to the native coasting vessels. Larger 

 vessels may anchor in the roads, -but it is necessary to stand in under 

 short sail, and to be ready to drop anchor the first cast of the lead : 

 the bank is very steep. At the village of San Jose, where there are a 

 few troops, vessels may be supplied with some few refreshments. The 

 chart of the survey of this small bay in the Atlas is referred to, as 

 well as the Narrative, Vol. V, for a description of it. The longitude, 

 as determined by our chronometers, places the Point of Antique Roads 

 in 121° 59' 30" east, and 10° 40' north latitude. This coast I under- 

 stood is rarely visited by the typhoons, as they seldom extend south 

 of this parallel. Antique Roads lie 18 miles north of Nasog Point, 

 the south point of Panay, which is a bold, high bluff, off which are 

 two small islets. In navigating along the west shore of this island, 

 great advantage may be taken of the land and sea breezes, which gene- 

 rally prevail throughout the year. 



From Point Nasog, the coast of Panay trends to the eastward as far 

 as the Island of Guimari, which occupies a large part of the strait 

 between Panay and Negros, on which side the greatest number of the 

 inhabitants of this island dwell. Yli Yli is the principal town, and 

 lies at the northward and eastward end of the strait. There is good 



