rection of the river is NNE. to its
source in the Sugut Mountains. At 21 miles from the northern mouth
the river divides into two arms, which enter the sea 4 1/2 miles apart.

In the northern part of Mindanao is the province of Surigao, bordered
on the north by the Surigao Sea, on the east by the Pacific, on the
south by the District of Davao, and on the west by the territory
of the infieles. It is mountainous, but the Christian population
resides on the coasts and in the northern point of the territory. The
population is 95,775, distributed among 45 pueblos, 10 barrios,
and 30 rancherias of subdued infieles. Abaca and palay are raised,
and in the gold washings considerable gold of good quality is found.

Military notes on the Philippines affirm that the islands are, in many
respects, Spain's best possessions, due to the abundance and variety
of products, numerous and good ports, character of inhabitants, and on
account of the vicinity of certain countries of eastern Asia, which are
now entering upon a stage of civilization and commerce. The group is
composed of some 2,000 islands. In 1762 Manila was taken and held by
the English for a ransom of 1,000,000 pounds sterling. This, however,
was never paid, and the islands were finally returned to Spain.

The archipelago extends from 5 degrees 32 minutes to 19 degrees 38
minutes, north latitude, and from 117 degrees to 126 degrees, east
longitude. It thus covers about 1,000 miles north and south and 600
east and west.

The whole surface of the Philippines is essentially mountainous, the
only plains that occur being alluvial districts at the river mouths
and the spaces left by the intersection of the ranges. The principal
ranges have a tendency to run north and south, with a certain amount of
deflection east and west, as the case may be, so that the orographic
diagram of the archipelago, as a whole, has a similarity to a fan,
with northern Luzon as its center of radiation.

While none of the mountain peaks greatly exceed 8,000 feet in height,
Apo, in Mindanao, is over 9,000 feet; Halson, in Mindoro, is over
8,900 feet; and Mayon, in Luzon, over 8,200. The latter is an active
volcano, which has been the scene of several eruptions during the
present century. Extinct or active craters are relatively as numerous
in the Philippines as in the eastern archipelago, and as a consequence
of these subterranean forces earthquakes are frequent and violent.

In 1627 one of the most e