78 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
the island from Abra de Ylo to Mamburao, along which 
there is a road which can be traversed in the dry season, 
but is so flooded during the rains as to be impassable. 
In the north-east is a lake about five miles across, which 
lies in a depression behind the coast-range between the 
towns of Nanjan and Pola. The floods of the wet season 
leave an annual deposit of mud in this valley, which 
raises its level so rapidly that the church of the old 
town of Nanjan, situated near the lake, became buried 
in the course of fifteen years to the top of the arch of 
the door, and the town had to be removed to near the sea. 
The curious Anoct depressicornis , an antelope-like 
buffalo which is peculiar to the island of Celebes, has 
been reported to exist in Mindoro, but Dr. Steere’s recent 
visit has shown that the wild bovine animal of the island 
is quite a distinct and new species, although apparently 
closely allied. The occurrence of this animal in Mindoro 
alone of all the islands is very remarkable. The land 
shells also show a striking peculiarity, and the avifauna, 
if not so distinctive, nevertheless comprises many peculiar 
species. Taking these facts into consideration, and that 
of the existence of very deep water completely surround¬ 
ing the island, it is probable that we have to do with a 
remnant of a very much older continent, which was at 
one time possibly connected with Celebes and land to 
the south and east in the direction of Australia. 
Fanay. 
This island is situated to the south-east of Mindoro, 
and including Guimaras, has an area of 4831 square 
miles. It is in shape an irregular triangle, and the 
island of Guimaras to the south-east appears to have once 
formed a part of it. A chain of mountains runs from 
