The National tribune., 1900-02-22

| Various small islands came into view on
| the same side and long reef which. from
| the roar of breakers. seemed quite threaten
ing; and then the skyline of a mountainous
and extensive coast which the FIRST Officer
designated as the Island of Samar Man.
groves and other foliage could be deserted
with glass along the shore and on the
mountains.
On the starboard side the light of San
Bernardino was the first thing noticeable,
| located on an islet said to he 80 feet high,
and then the main coast of Luzon. with
wooded hills and mountains and several
lofty peaks shrouded In clouds. One of
them, Bulusan, is said to he an active vol
| cano. though as we passed the clouds en-
velopIng its head prevented us from seeing
any such phenomena, if it existed.
Several dangerous reefs appeared also
on this side. and our passage of the Strait of
San BernardinO was enlivened by school
OF SpOrtlVe dOlphinS and more than the
usual number of fiying-fish scudding away
from the vessels course. Shots We're fired
at the sea pigs" and one of them was
thought to be wounded but if so he at least
escaped Identification.
A glass revealed habitationS along the
Shore OF Luzon, single and in clusters, sur
rounded by palms and other trees, and some
Of the passengers thought they could dis
Germ bodies Of men moving along the beach.
Inc possible danger of a shot from the in
surgents was mooted, which made our
Gunner. Jim Sterling. smile with hopeful
anticipation that il might prove true.
But if no such thrilling incident occurred
on the days voyage it was none the less
interesting. The sky was beautifully
clear, with fresh breeze blowing from the
southwest. rendering the mild atmosphere
peculiarly bracing, and with the inviting
shores OF the principal coasts visible, and
the number of smaller islands covered with
vegetation and foliage constantly coming
into view, removing any doubt one might
have as to the great number of the Philip
pines. there was certainly enough tointereSt.
Nor should it be thought that this trip is
utterly devoid of danger. The numerous
rocks and reefs to be found everywhere in
this archipelago, many of them uncharted,
many places, as in San Bernardino and
Verde Straits, are variable and strong and
the winds subject to sudden shifts always
supplies an element of risk.
Ii the reader will take the trouble To OBJ
serve any detailed map of the Philippines,
our course may be easily traced among
them. Passing the south end of Luzon on
the right, with half-dozen small islands,
high and rocky, known as the Nara1jos
group, to the left, we change course TO the
northwest between south Luzon and Ticao,
and doubling the north point of the latter,
San Miguel, veer sharply to the southwest,
passing between Tiaco and Burias on the
right, the north part of Masbate, PIT. Bugal,
coming into view on the opposite port side
Many vessel has been lost in this pas
sage between Burias and Masbate; and
chiefly so when coming from the west,
where especially in foggy weather the low.
sandy coast of southern Burias. with its
adjacent rocks and reefs, is likely to be I'M
observed.
Steaming northwest. through COM
paratively open sea, though islands appear
and disappear on every hand toward eve
ming We are abreast of large island to the
north. called Martinique. with three
peaked and rocky islets directly in our front
called the Reyes, the skyline of Mindoro
afar off on the port side, and
lands of various shapes. sizes and color
noticeable TO the southwark
In the softened, balmy atmosphere of
twilight. with the stars beginning to ap-
pear. and their scintillatious to reflect from
the ruffled waves. it needed little stretch of
fancy 10 ina gine this a scene of fairyland;
and the remark was made by one of the
passengers on the deck. that il these islands
We're filled with modern homes and subject