They are situated at the southern end of the Philippine archipelago, and have a population of 7,000. The thermometer during July and August rarely goes below 79 degrees or above 85 degrees. The extreme ranges in a year are said to be 61 degrees and 97 degrees, and the annual mean 81 degrees. There are three well-marked seasons, temperate and dry from November to February, hot and dry from March to May, and temperate and wet from June to October. The total rainfall has been as high as 114 inches in one year.
Yellow fever appears to be unknown.
Almost all of these diseases are preventable by proper precautions even by troops in campaign. The mineral wealth of the islands is unknown. Although agriculture is the chief occupation of the Filipinos, yet only one-ninth of the surface is under cultivation. The chief products are rice, corn, hemp, sugar, tobacco, cocoanuts, and cacao. The rice and corn are principally produced in Luzon and Mindoro and are consumed in the islands.