over to the Dutch,
in exchange for Malacca and some factories in India. (Crawfurd's
Dict. Ind. Islands, p. 48). Sellebar was a village not far east
from Bencoolen.

[25] The Bashee or Bachi Islands form the northern cluster of
the northern group of islands, called Batanes, which lie north of
Luzon. They are the most northern of all the American possessions in
the Orient, and are separated from Formosa by the strait of Bachi. The
islands composing the cluster are Mabudis, Misanga, Siayan, Tanan,
and Y'Ami (all inhabited), the last being the most northern. The
Batanes are composed in all of ten named islands and forty unnamed
islets and rocks, the southern cluster including Bachi Rocks; Batan,
the central and most important island of the group; Dequez; Diamis
Rocks; Diego; Ibayat (or Isbayat), the largest of these islands;
Ibugos; North; and Sabtan. The name of Bachi is sometimes extended
to the entire group, and it is probable that Dampier's five islands,
or at least some of them, were among the southern cluster; for Dequez
Island is also called Goat; Ibayat, Orange; and Ibugos, Bachi. The
group is separated on the south from the Babuyanes by the Balingtan
Channel. The larger islands bear indications of a late volcanic origin;
the smaller islands are generally low, and rest upon foundations of
coral. In this group are a number of good harbors; but communication
between the islands is difficult because of the strong currents
in the channels and the scarcity of anchorages. The exports of the
islands consist of lard, cocoanut oil, hogs, horses, goats, and some
valuable woods. The soil is fertile, especially of Batan, and many
vegetables are produced. Some of the products of the United States can
be successfully raised. The chief industry is the raising of cattle,
hogs, goats, and horses, the last being of superior quality and in
demand. A catechism of the dialect spoken in the Batanes was published
by a friar in 1834, an examination of which has led Dr. Pardo de Tavera
to the conclusion that the aboriginal tongue differed considerably
from the other Filipino dialects, as it contains the sound "tsch"
and a nasal sound like the French "en." It is probable, however, that
the present population of the Batanes, as well as of the Babuyanes,
is composed very largely of Ibanag from the Cagayan Valley (Luzon),
introduced there as colonists by the Dominican friars. This population
is Christian. The earlier population must have born