88 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
The island is divided into six provinces, the largest 
and most populous of which is Misamis, extending along 
the north coast between E. long. 123° and 125°, the 
chief town, also called Misamis, being situated in a deep 
inlet of Iligan Bay, forming a secure harbour. East of 
this, occupying the whole northern peninsula, is Surigao, 
at the extremity of which is the chief town of the same 
name. On the east coast is Bislig, a small province, and 
of less importance even than Davao, a little explored 
territory around the gulf of that name, Cota Batu, 
wrongly written Cottabatto by the Spaniards, embraces 
not only the larger part of the southern land-mass of the 
island, but also the country around Illana Bay. Its 
capital, formerly termed Mindanao, is situated a short 
distance up the Bio Grande. Another Spanish settle¬ 
ment, Pollok, ten miles farther north, was at one time 
connected with it by an excellent road, but, like other 
undertakings in the Philippines, it has been neglected, 
and is now impassable. There are few settlers here, and 
the population is chiefly composed of the garrison and 
the officers of the gunboats, of which one or two are 
always kept on the station to watch the movements of 
suspicious craft on the neighbouring coast, which does 
not bear the best of reputations. Of all the Spanish 
settlements, however, Zamboanga is the best known. 
Lying at the entrance of the Sulu Sea, and guarding the 
Strait of Basilan, it is frequently made a port of call. 
It was established in 1635, and is of some size and 
commercial importance, boasting of being the healthiest 
town in the archipelago. Its inhabitants are chiefly 
half castes, descended from Tagal women and Spaniards, 
and speak pure but old-fashioned Spanish. The total 
population of Mindanao is estimated to be about 
650,000. 
