CHAPTER III 
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 
1. General. 
The Philippines, the most valuable and extensive colonial 
possessions of Spain, extend almost due north and south 
from Formosa to Borneo and the Moluccas, embracing an 
extent of 16° of latitude and 9° of longitude. To the 
north the nearest land is the island of Formosa, distant 
about 175 miles. From Manila to Hongkong is 2^- 
days by steamer. To the west lies Cochin China, to the 
south Borneo and Celebes, and to the east the open 
sea. To the south and w T est the Sulu group and Palawan 
project like horns to within a few miles of the coast of 
Borneo, enclosing the deep basin known as the Sulu or 
Mindoro Sea. But though a series of stepping-stones are 
thus formed which would seem to indicate a recent union 
with that island, a closer examination does not confirm 
this idea. For the soundings in the Mindoro Strait, to 
the north of Palawan, although as yet incomplete, reveal 
a depth of 600 to 700 fathoms, while between Sibutu 
and Tawi-tawi Islands, in the Sulu group, a similar channel 
exists, though of less depth. This, and the shallowness of 
the sea between Borneo and Palawan, appear to point to the 
conclusion that the latter is really Bornean rather than 
