NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
657 
At Samboangan the extremity of Tigtauan Island in line with Mariqui Point is 
an excellent mark for the edge of the bank off Samboangan (between the extremities 
of the town). Outside this line of transit the water is deep ; when on it, the soundings 
vary from 10 to 13 fathoms, whilst inside the water shoals rapidly. Vessels intending 
to remain at Samboangan for more than twenty-four hours should moor, as it is almost 
impossible to keep a clear anchor owing to the strong tide and frequent calms. It was 
noticed whilst lying at Samboangan that the stream did not turn at the time of high 
and low water by the shore, but from two to three hours after high or low water. The 
captain of the Spanish surveying vessel said that the tides in Basilan Strait were very 
irregular, and that the high water at full or change of the moon varies from seven to ten 
hours after the moon’s transit. The diurnal inequality here follows the same law as over 
the whole of the China Sea, the day tide being highest when the sea is north of the 
Equator, and the night tide when it is south. 
Samboangan is a small Spanish town at the southwest extremity of Mindanao Island. 
From the town a pier extends to the edge of the shallow water to facilitate landing ; at 
the outer end of this pier is a lighthouse, and at its inner end the captain of the port’s 
office ; just behind which again is the church. Running parallel with the beach, between 
the office of the captain of the port and the church is a canal, which is used by the 
inhabitants as a bathing place. At low tide the water in the canal is fresh, but 
brackish at high water. At the eastern end of the town is a quadrangular fort with 
four bastions, founded in 1635. The town itself is small, but contains a few shops and 
a hotel. 
At the cemetery at Samboangan there are a number of small niches built against 
the wall like ovens, into which the dead bodies are first placed and covered with quick- 
lime. After remaining in these niches for three years, the bones are collected and thrown 
into a common receptacle. 
A plain extends from Samboangan some three miles, to the foot of the hills, which is 
cultivated principally with rice ; this tract of land is so low and swampy as to appear 
unhealthy, but the authorities do not give it that character. The traffic into the country 
is kept up by means of sledges, drawn by water buffaloes, probably the soft muddy road 
does not allow wheeled vehicles to be used.' Small ponies can be hired at a moderate 
rate for a ride into the interior, but they are not up to more than about a dozen miles 
a day. 
A Spanish surveying vessel was found here at anchor, engaged in the survey of the 
Tawi Tawi group ; but as the Spaniards were at war with the Rajah or Sultan of Sulu 
they were not able to prosecute their work satisfactorily. 
On landing at Samboangan on the way from Australia the naturalist could not fail 
to be reminded that the Expedition was nearing India, and scenes in Ceylon were 
recalled at once to memory. Swampy paddy fields stretched everywhere round the 
