Atlas of the Philippine Islands/Introduction

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Washington: Government Printing Office, pages 3–7

ATLAS OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.


INTRODUCTION.


ORIGIN OF ATLAS.


Treasury Department.

Office U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Washington, D. C. December, 1899.

Shortly after the Philippine commissioners reached Manila it was learned that a series of maps, covering the more important islands of the archipelago, was being prepared at the Jesuit Observatory under the supervision of the director, Rev. José Algue, S. J.

An inspection of such of the maps as already had been completed satisfied the commission that they were superior to anything hitherto published. It was learned that the Jesuit Fathers planned to make the series quite complete, but that they had no very definite ideas as to when the work would be completed or how the maps would be published eventually.

The commission conceived the idea of securing their cooperation in the preparation of a comprehensive atlas of the archipelago, and with this end in view asked them to submit a tentative list of maps. The request was promptly complied with. After some discussion the series here published was decided upon, and an arrangement was entered into whereby it should be completed and become the property of the commission by August 15. 1899.

It is an interesting fact that the technical work was executed wholly by native Philippine draftsmen. It was carried on under the immediate supervision of Rev. José Algue, S. J., director of the Manila Observatory.

The entire absence of accurate surveys of many of the islands was necessarily a serious drawback, but the Jesuits spared no pains in securing all available data, and verified them by consultation with members of the other religious orders, as well as with old residents, travelers, and explorers. To the admirable work of their own Order is due practically all of our present knowledge of the interior of Mindanao.

While strictly accurate maps can never be prepared until the necessary surveys have been made, it is believed that this atlas fairly represents the present state of geographic knowledge of the Philippine Archipelago, and that it embodies a large amount of new information.

At the suggestion of the Philippine commission and of the Department of State, and in view of its usefulness as a preliminary compilation, it was decided to publish the maps through the agency of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Owing to the contradictions involved in the arbitrary scale and projection of the original drawings, some of the maps were redrawn at the Coast and Geodetic Survey Office. It was also deemed timely to append the statistical information which follows this introduction and to give an interpretation of the conventional signs used on the maps.


Henry S. Pritchett,

Superintendent.


GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS OF THE PHILIPPINES.

The Philippine Archipelago was ceded to the United States by treaty signed at Paris December 10, 1898.

The cession includes the islands in the geographical limits set forth by the wording of the treaty as follows:

A line running east along or near the twentieth parallel of north latitude, and through the middle of the navigable channel of Bachi, from the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) to the one hundred and twenty-seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich; thence along the one hundred and twenty-seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the parallel of four degrees and forty-five minutes (4° 45′) north latitude; thence along the parallel of four degrees and forty-five minutes (4° 45′) north latitude to its intersection with the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty-five minutes (119° 35′) east of Greenwich; thence along the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty-five minutes (119° 35′) east of Greenwich to the parallel of latitude seven degrees and forty minutes (7° 40′) north; thence along the parallel of latitude seven degrees and forty minutes (7° 40′) to its intersection with the one hundred and sixteenth (116th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich; thence by a direct line to the intersection of the tenth (10th) degree parallel of north latitude with the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, and thence along the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the point of beginning.

In the description of the northern limits the line through the navigable channel of Bachi governs as against the statement that it shall follow along or near the twentieth parallel of north latitude.


LONGITUDE AND DATE.

The cathedral in Manila is in north latitude 14° 35′ 31″ and in longitude 120° 58′ 03″, or 8h 03m 52.2s east of Greenwich or 10h 47m 55.6s west of Washington.

Spanish maps, as a rule, reckon the longitude from the meridian of San Fernando, which is 6° 12′ 20″ west of Greenwich.

The date reckoning now conforms to European usage. Prior to 1845, however, there was a difference of one day. The change was made by suppressing the date following December 30, 1844, which would have been Tuesday, and calling it Wednesday, January 1, 1845.


PHYSIOGRAPHY AND RESOURCES.

The geographic and physiographic features of the archipelago are shown as far as they are known on the accompanying maps, and therefore require no textual interpretation, and the purpose of this publication forbids verbal generalizations. Attention may, however, be called to the seismic map showing regional frequency of earthquakes, and to the map showing the positions of the numerous active and inactive volcanoes. These are based on data collected by the seismic meteorological service established in Manila since 1884. Numerous and destructive earthquakes have occurred in the islands; the earliest recorded took place in 1616, while the most recent was the destructive eruption of Mayon in 1897.

It is believed that the names given on these maps will serve as a standard of reference and that the maps will be for some time to come the base maps for representing graphically the results of the inquiries into the varied resources, and the political, social, and climatic conditions of the islands.


AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.

The Philippines are said to be of inexhaustible fertility. All tropical fruits flourish there and hemp, sugar, and tobacco, are the principal articles of export.


MINERAL RESOURCES.

The reported mineral resources are sketched in the appended table taken from the Nineteenth Annual Report of the Director of the United States Geological Survey:

Island. Latitude,
north
end.
Character of mineral resources.
°
Luzon 18 40 Coal, gold, lead, copper, iron, sulphur, marble, kaolin.
Catanduanes 11 08 Gold.
Marinduque 13 34 Lead, silver.
Mindoro 13 32 Coal, gold, copper.
Cacraray 13 21 Coal.
Batan 13 19 Coal.
Rapu Rapu 13 15 Coal.
Masbate 12 37 Coal, copper.
Romblon 12 37 Marble.
Samar 12 36 Coal, gold.
Sibuyan 12 30 Gold.
Semirara 12 07 Coal.
Panay 11 56 Coal, oil, gas, gold, copper, iron, mercury (?)
Biliran 11 43 Sulphur.
Leyte 11 35 Coal, oil, mercury (?).
Cebu 11 17 Coal, oil, gas, gold, lead, silver, iron.
Negros 11 Coal.
Bohol 10 10 Gold.
Panaon 10 10 Gold.
Mindanao 9 50 Coal, gold, copper, platinum.
Sulu Archipelago 6 30 Pearls.


NUMBER OF THE ISLANDS.

Many different statements have been made in regard to the number of the islands composing the archipelago. The cause for this must be attributed to the scale of the charts on which the count was made and the difficulty of distinguishing between rocks and formations of sufficient area to dignify them by the name of islands. Thus on a small-scale Spanish chart of the entire group 948 islands were counted; on various large-scale charts of the same area there were found 1,725.

The principal islands, with the extent of shore line of some of them and their area, are given on the following lists. The areas were carefully measured, but are subject to the inaccuracy of the charts.

AREA.

Name. Square
miles.
Square
kilo-
meters.
Name. Square
miles.
Square
kilo-
meters.
Babuyan 36 93 Ybayat or Ibayat 22 57
Bagata or Quinalasag 27 70 Ylin 24 62
Balabac 38 98 GROUPS
Basilan 350 907
Batan 21 54 Alabat 76 197
Bantayan 26 67 Jomalig
Bohol 1,439 3,727 Banton 44 114
Bucas 41 106 Simara
Burias 163 422 Romblon
Busuanga 328 850 Daram 41 106
Caluyan 37 96 Buad
Camiguin (Babuyanes group) 54 140 Camotes group:
Ponson 74 192
Camiguin 71 184 Poro
Catanduanes 680 1,761 Pasijan
Cebu 1,742 4,512 Calaguas group:
Culion 117 303 Tinagua 19 49
Dalupiri 20 53 Guintinua
Dinagat 259 671 Cuyos group:
Dumaran 95 246 Cuyo 28 73
Fuga 21 54 Cugo
Guimaras 176 456 Agutaya
Leyte (Leite) 2,713 7,027 Hamipo
Linapacan 40 104 Bisukei
Luzon 47,238 122,346 Laguan 23 60
Mactan 20 52 Batag
Malhou (Homonhon) 35 91 Limbaucauyan 184 477
Marinduque 287 743 Mesa or Talajit
Masbate 1,290 3,341 Maripipi
Mindanao 36,237 93,854 Balupiri
Mindoro 3,972 10,987 Biliran
Negros 4,854 12,571 Lubang 184 477
Olutanga 71 184 Ambil
Panaon 57 148 Golo
Panay 4,708 12,194 San Miguel 82 212
Panglao 24 62 Batan
Pangutaran 32 85 Cacraray
Paragua or Palawan 3,937 10,197 Rapu Rapu
Polillo 231 598 Tawi Tawi group:
Samal 105 272 Tawi Tawi 183 474
Samar 5,040 13,054 Tabulinga
Sarangani 36 93 Tandubato
Semirara 23 60 Others of the Tawi Tawi group 54 140
Siargao 134 347
Sibuiyan 131 339 Total measured 118,542 307,025
Siquijor 83 215
Sulu or Jolo 241 624 Estimated area of unmeas­ured islands 1,000 2,590
Tablas 250 648
Tacao 94 243 Total area 119,542 309,615


LENGTH OF GENERAL SHORE LINE.

Name. Statute
miles.
Kilo-
meters.
Name. Statute
miles.
Kilo-
meters.
Bohol 161 259 Mindoro 322 518
Cebu 310 499 Negros 386 621
Jolo Archipelago 858 1,381 Palawan 644 1,036
Catanduanes 126 203 Panay 377 607
Leyte 363 584 Samar 412 663
Luzon 2,144 3,450 Minor islands 3,505 5,641
Masbate 244 393 Total 11,414 18,417
Mindanao 1,592 2,563


POPULATION.

The Philippine Commission has adopted 8,000,000 as the total figure for the population at the present time and consider it a conservative estimate. Baranera, whose figures are believed to be carefully prepared, places the total at 9,000,000. Any estimate of the total population must manifestly depend on the number of inhabitants assigned to the various wild tribes, of which there are no less than 69. The following table, given by the Philippine Commission, shows the names of the several provinces and military districts of the Archipelago, with their capitals, as well as the island in which each is situated, together with their populations.

[C. = civil; P. M. = politico-military.]

Provinces and districts. Islands where situated. Provincial capitals. Designations. Popula­tion.
Abra Luzon Banquet Province (P. M.) 49,700
Albay Luzon Alcay Province (C.) 148,425
Ambos Camarines Luzon Nueva Caceres do 165,504
Amburayan Luzon Alilem Comandancia (P. M.) 30,150
Apayaos Luzon Abulog do 16,000
Antique Panay ... ... 114,483
Balabac Balabac Balabac Province (P. M.) 1,100
Baras Mindanao Baras Comandancia (P. M.) ...
Basilan Basilan Isabela de Basilan District (P. M.) 12,000
Bataan Luzon Balanga Province (C.) 52,000
Batanes Batanes, Saptang, Ibayat, Calayan Sto. Domingo de Basco Province (P. M.) 9,475
Batangas Luzon Batangas Province (C.) 312,192
Benguet Luzon La Trinidad Comandancia (P. M.) 15,932
Binatangan Luzon Binatangan do 5,000
Bohol Bohol Tagbiláran Province (P. M.) 248,000
Bongao Bongao Bongao Comandancia (P. M.) (?)
Bontoc Luzon Bontoc do 14,745
Bulacan Luzon Bulacan Province (C.) 230,000
Burias Burias San Pascual Comandancia (P. M.) 1,753
Butuan Mindanao Butuan do 16,246
Cabugoan Luzon Piddig do (?)
Cagayan Luzon Tuguegarao Province (C.) 96,357
Calamianes Calamianes Is. Cuyo Province (P. M.) 16,380
Cuyos Is.
Linapacan
Dumaran
Agutaya
North Palavan
Capiz Panay Capiz do 128,006
Catanduanes Catanduanes Virac do 35,683
Cavite Luzon Cavite do 132,567
Cayapa Luzon Cayapa Comandancia (P. M.) 1,854
Cebu Cebu Cebu Province (P. M.) 504,076
Camotes
Mactan
Bantayan
Concepcion Panay Concepcion District (P. M.) 19,602
Corregidor Corregidor Corregidor Province (P. M.) 575
Cottabato Mindanao Cottabato District (P. M.) 3,048
Dapitan Mindanao Dapitan Comandancia (P. M.) 12,615
Davao Mindanao Davao District (P. M.) 14,000
Ilocos Norte Luzon Laoag Province (P. M.) 156,700
Ilocos Sur Luzon Vigan Province (C.) 172,836
Iloílo Panay Iloílo Province (P. M.) 427,798
Guimaras
Infanta Luzon Binangonan Comandancia (P. M.) 10,100
Polillo
Isabela Luzon Iligan Province (C.) 54,026
Itaves Luzon O’Dona Comandancia (P. M.) 15,208
Iligan Mindanao Iligan (?) (?)
Laguna Luzon Santa Cruz Province (C.) 177,000
Lanao Leyte Marahui District (P. M.) (?)
Mindanao
Panaon
Lepanto Luzon Cervantes Comandancia (P. M.) 16,160
Levac Mindanao (?) do (?)
Leyte Leyte Tacloban Province (P. M.) 270,491
Baliran
Panaon
Malabang Mindanao Malabang Comandancia (P. M.) (?)
Manila Luzon Manila Province (C.) 500,000
Masbate Masbate Masbate Province (P. M.) 19,517
Ticao
Matti Mindanao Matti Comandancia (P. M.) 16,180
Mindoro Mindoro Calapang Province (P. M.) 172,711
Lubang
Ylin
Marinduque
Misamis Mindanao Cagayan de Misamis District (P. M.) 113,695
Camiguin
Morong Luzon Moron Comandancia (P. M.) 42,083
Negros (oriental) Negros Dumaguete Province (P. M.) 94,782
Siquijor
Negros (occidental) Negros Bacolod do 296,995
Nueva Ecija Luzon San Icidro do 155,000
Nueva Viscaya Luzon Bayombong do 17,039
Palawan (Paragua) Palawan Puerto Princesa do 50,000
Pampanga Luzon Bacolor Province (C.) 222,932
Pangasinan Luzon Lingayen do 304,000
Principe Luzon Baler Province (P. M.) 11,000
Quiangan Luzon Magylang Comandancia (P. M.) 29,800
Reina Regente Mindanao Reina Regente do (?)
Romblon Romblon Romblon do 38,000
Tablas
Sibuyan
Carabao
Banton
Simara
Maestre de Campo
Samar Samar Catbalogan Province (P. M.) 200,753
Sarangani (bay and islands) Mindanao (?) Comandancia (P. M.) (?)
Siassi Tapul group Siassi do 12,269
Sorsogon Luzon Sorsogon Province (P. M.) 98,650
Sulu Sulo group Sulu do 17,000
Surigao Mindanao Surigao District (P. M.) 95,322
Binagat
Siargao
Bucas
Tarlac Luzon Tarlac Province (C.) 115,000
Tataan Tawitawi and islets Tataan Comandancia (P. M.) 2,500
Tayabas Luzon Tayabas Province (C.) 105,576
Tiagan Luzon San Emilio Comandancia (P. M.) 2,500
Tukuran Mindanao Tukuran do (?)
Union Luzon San Fernando Province (C.) 105,135
Zambales Luzon Iba do 86,641
Zamboanga Mindanao Zamboanga District (P. M.) 21,364


DICTIONARY OF CONVENTIONAL SIGNS USED ON THE MAPS.

Signos convencionales. Conventional signs.
Algo frecuentes. Somewhat frequent.
Barrios. Small villages.
Bosque. Wild, uncultivated land.
Cabeceras. Capitals of the provinces.
Caminos carreteras. Wagon roads.
Caminos de herradura. Trails.
Casa hacienda. Farmhouse.
Destacamento militar. Military post.
Estación central. Central station.
Estaciones meteorológicas. Meteorological stations.
Estaciones seismicas. Earthquake stations.
Faros. Light-houses.
Faros en proyecto. Proposed light-houses.
Frecuentes. Frequent.
Ferrocarril. Railroad.
Ferrocarril en proyecto. Proposed railroad.
Luces. Lights.
Límite de provincias. Boundary of provinces.
Linea telegráfica. Telegraph line.
Muy frecuentes. Very frequent
Muy raros. Very rare.
Pueblos. Large villages or cities.
Rancherías. Settlements.
Rancherías de Moros. Moros’ settlements.
Raros. Rare.
Raza Indonesiana. Indonesian race.
Raza Malaya. Malay race.
Senderos. Footpaths.
Terreno de cultiva. Cultivated land.
Territorio de los cristiano-hispano-filipinos. Territory of the Spanish Filipino Christians.
Territorio de los cristianos nuevos e de los infideles. Territory of the recently converted Christians and of the heathens.
Territorio de los Moros. Territory of the Moros.
Tranvía. Street car lines.
Volcanes activos. Active volcanoes.
Volcanes no activos. Inactive volcanoes.


GENERAL REMARKS.

In the preparation of this collection of maps, the best, and especially the most recent ones, published by the Hydrographic Commission have been consulted.

The meridians are given with reference to Greenwich.

For the lineal value of 1 degree of latitude the mean value for the zone of the Philippine Archipelago has been adopted, or 1°=110,000 km.

SPECIAL REMARKS.

The original maps are Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 16, 17, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29.

The maps Nos. 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, and 23 are based on those published by D. Enrique de Almonte, with new data.

Map No. 20 is a reproduction of one published by D. Enrique Abella.

Map No. 30 is taken from a plan recently published by the Spanish hydrographic commission.

Map No. 22 is based on one published by D. Enrique Abella, except the detail in the vicinity of Cebu, which is from the Spanish hydrographic commission.

The original maps Nos. 26, 27, and 28 are based on information from the Mission of the Society of Jesus and the maps published by that mission in the Philippines. For the other maps, especially the originals, the information furnished by the missionaries of the other religious orders in the Philippines has been very valuable.

INDEX OF THE MAPS.

No.
  1. A general map of the Pacific.
  2. A political map of the Philippine Archipelago.
  3. An ethnographical map of the Philippine Archipelago.
  4. An orographical and volcanographical map of the archipelago.
  5. A map of the Philippine Archipelago showing the meteorological districts and stations.
  6. A map of the Philippine Archipelago showing the distribution of earthquakes.
  7. The island of Luzon.
  8. The island of Luzon.
  9. The island of Luzon.
  10. The island of Luzon.
  11. The island of Luzon.
  12. The island of Luzon and the island of Polillo.
  13. The islands of Batanes and Babuyanes.
  14. The island of Catanduanes.
  15. The island of Mindoro.
  16. The islands of Sibuyan, Romblon, and Tablas.
  17. The islands of Masbate and Ticao.
  18. The island of Samar.
  19. The island of Leyte.
  20. The island of Panay.
  21. The island of Negros.
  22. The island of Cebu.
  23. The island of Bohol.
  24. The island of Paragua, or North Palawan.
  25. The island of Paragua, or South Palawan.
  26. The island of Mindanao, general map.
  27. The island of Mindanao, eastern part.
  28. The island of Mindanao, western part.
  29. The bay of Manila.
  30. The strait of S. Juanico.

OBSERVACIONES GENERALES.

1ª. Para trazar los mapas de esta colección se han consultado los mejores mapas publicados por la comisión hidrográfica, especialmente los más recientes.

2ª. Los meridianos se han trazado con referencia al de Greenwich.

3ª. Para el valor lineal de un grado de paralelo se ha adoptado el valor medio para la zona del archipiélago filipino de 1°=110.000 km.

OBSERVACIONES PARTICULARES.

1ª. Son mapas originales los números 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 16, 17, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.

2ª. Los mapas números 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 23 están basados en los publicados por D. Enrique de Almonte, con nuevos datos.

3ª. El mapa número 20 es reproducción del publicado por D. Enrique Abella.

4ª. El mapa número 30 está tomado de un plano publicado recientemente por la Comisión Hidrográfica Española.

5ª. El mapa número 22 está basado en el publicado por D. Enrique Abella, excepto el detalle de los alrededores de Cebú que son de la Comisión Hidrográfica Española.

6ª. Los mapas originales 26, 27, 28 están basados en los Informes de los Misioneros de la Compañía de Jesús y en los mapas publicados por la Misión de la Compañía de Jesús en Filipinas, para los demás mapas, especialmente los originales, han sido muy valiosos los informes dados por Misioneros de otras órdenes religiosas en Filipinas.

ÍNDICE DE LOS MAPAS.

No.
  1. Mapa general del Pacífico.
  2. Archipiélago filipino. Mapa político.
  3. Archipiélago filipino. Mapa etnográfico.
  4. Archipiélago filipino. Mapa orográfico y vulcanográfico.
  5. Archipiélago filipino. Proyecto de distritos meteorológico-séismicos.
  6. Archipiélago filipino. Distribución de temblores.
  7. Isla de Luzón.
  8. Isla de Luzón.
  9. Isla de Luzón.
  10. Isla de Luzón.
  11. Isla de Luzón.
  12. Isla de Luzón é Isla de Polillo.
  13. Islas Batanes y Babuyanes.
  14. Isla Catanduanes.
  15. Isla de Mindoro.
  16. Islas de Sibuyán, Romblón y Tablas.
  17. Islas de Masbate y Ticao.
  18. Isla de Samar.
  19. Isla de Leyte.
  20. Isla de Panay.
  21. Isla de Negros.
  22. Isla de Cebú.
  23. Isla de Bohol.
  24. Isla de Paragua ó Palawan Norte.
  25. Isla de Paragua ó Palawan Sur.
  26. Isla de Mindanao. Mapa general.
  27. Isla de Mindanao oriental.
  28. Isla de Mindanao occidental.
  29. Bahía de Manila.
  30. Estrecho de S. Juanico.

THE PRONUNCIATION OF SPANISH.

The Spanish language has but one accent, called acento agudo, which is placed over the vowels a, e, i, o, u; it serves to lengthen the syllable and to accentuate it more distinctly and forcibly than the other vowels.

As a general rule, all Spanish words ending in a vowel are accentuated on the penultimate, or the last syllable but one; they do not, therefore, require the accent, but if any other syllable is to be accented it is indicated.

With the exception of proper names and adverbs, most words ending in a consonant have the accent on the last syllable.

The Spanish a always has the sound of the English a in father; the e that of ay in English; the i that of ee; the o that of oh; and the u that of oo, as in boot, root, etc.

The vowels in Spanish must always be fully and distinctly pronounced, but the u is silent in the syllables gue, gui, que, qui, which are pronounced gay, gee, kay, kee.

The Spanish y has a sound nearly equivalent to the English j; the z exactly that of English th, as also the Spanish c when it comes before e or i. All the other consonants are sounded as in English except ll, which is pronounced as ly in English.

In the English interpretation of the sound of the Spanish words the th has always the lisping sound of these letters in thin, path, etc.

The main difficulty in pronouncing Spanish is the j (hoetah), which has the sound of h very strongly aspirated.