84 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
is hilly and volcanic, with abundant streams and a fertile 
soil, the chief product of which is tobacco, although 
almost all the crops usually cultivated in the archipelago 
are grown. It is united with the small island of 
Siquihor to form the province of Bohol, whose popula¬ 
tion, according to the latest census, numbers no less than 
277,387 souls. The capital town is Tagbiloran, and 
there are four puellos of over 10,000 inhabitants. The 
density of the population is, in fact, nearly as great as 
that of Zebu and’ Panay. The people are all Bisayans. 
Siquihor is notable for possessing an active or semi-active 
volcano. 
Masbate. 
Off the southern end of Luzon, and forming with 
Ticao Island a province of that government, is Masbate, 
partly peopled by Bicols and partly by Bisayans. It is 
rather smaller than Bohol, having an area of about 1200 
square miles. A crescent-shaped mountain chain of con¬ 
siderable elevation occupies the middle of the island, 
probably composed of ancient crystalline rocks, as the 
river sands produce a considerable quantity of gold, and 
copper is also found. It possesses several good harbours, 
but in spite of this and its potential mineral wealth it is 
sparsely inhabited and cultivated, and has little or no 
trade. 
Mindanao. 
Mindanao, or Magindano as it was formerly called, is 
the most southern of the Philippines. In size it is 
scarcely inferior to Luzon, having a total area of 37,680 
square miles. In shape it is very irregular, its outline 
being broken on every side by deep bays and gulfs. Its 
rough measurements from north to south and from east 
