766 
THE ISLAND OF MINDORO. 
they scarcely dare to pass a single night there. We frequently 
hear that the crew of a vessel which has anchored for 
only two or three hours in this dangerous spot, has become 
thoroughly infected with fever, and a great part have died in the 
course of three or four days. It is on this account that the la¬ 
bourers of the neighbouring provinces (Manila ?) will not go to 
the coasts of Mindoro for any amount of salary. 
All these inconveniences would be avoided if the other islands 
had an excess of population which could emigrate there, but the 
contrary is the case. The population of Batangas, Tayabas, and 
Panay is very scattered, and the Calamianes have scarcely a single 
family for each island. 
The time is already near at hand when the Moors will no longer 
dare to approach our coasts. Whenever the inhabitants feel 
themselves well secure from these pirates, they will employ in 
tilling the ground that amount of labour which is now devoted to 
the construction and maintenance of gun-vessels, forts, stockades 
and telegraphs. Then its rapid prosperity will attract and foster 
population; the Manguians will become involved in the progres¬ 
sive movement; the clearing of ^jie land wi^^Lva .ce by little and 
little, and Mindoro will come to ue one of the mtfst rich as well a» 
the most beautiful isles of this Archipelago. 
