Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-10-15
SAMAR, THE THIRD
OF THE PHILIPPINE
ARCHIPELAGO IN SIZE.

How It Ranks in Agric"iturs-Its Pro
ducts, Fine Bays and Harbors-Othel
Interesting Facts About the Scene of tn
Recent Massacre.
The Island of Samar is the third is
land in size in the Philippine Archi
pelago having an areH, including Its
dependent islands, of BASS square
NJ lies. The island is almost contin'
uation of the southeastern peninsula
of Ltzon, being separated from 1T b!
the Strait of San Bernardino, only
| 1C1a miles wide. A mountain chain OF
medium height trends from north to
south and the extensive valleys be-
tseeo these ranges are watered by a
number of rivers. There are also foul
larg. lakes one of which Calibga is q
natural curiosity on account Of the
enormous boulders which line its
shores.
In the caves along the Samar shore
in prehistoric days were buried the
remains of human beings of much su'
perior stature to those now livlnR.
Another curiosity of nature is an arch
of limestone rock, 40 feet high, over
the Basig River 10 the south a cave
nearby known as "Cuaves de Sojoto-
ton, ~ presents some fine specimens OF
stslactites.
The coast line, ebout 4l2 miles, has
number of fine bays and harbors.
IN population, Sauar has lS5, 1856
registered Inhabitants and about TO-,
600 native refugees living 10 the noun
tains away from local authority, The
inhabitants are wholly of Visayan
stock
There are 50 towrs and upward of
300 villages in the island. Catbalogan,
the capital, open to coesting trade
aud a military station, has a large
trade with Manila in hemp, sugar,
rice and cocoanut oil. 1t has "a popula-
tim Of 6,072 Balangla, the scene of
the recent attack upon a detachment
of Company c, Ninth Infantry, is sit
uated about centre of the south coast,
on a blight to the east of San Pedro
and San Pablo Bay. at the southeast
by south of Puray River, 50 miles
southeast by south Of Catbal' gan.
OFF the shores of Samar are up yard
of 200 islands.
In agriculture, Samar ranks among
the most promising Of the islands.
The hemp product for shipment
amounts annually to q 600 900 pounds.
There is also a large output of sugar.
rice, cCcoanut for oil, coffee, choco'
late, tobacco, wheat and corn. The
pastoral industry is also large, horses,
cattle, caraboa, goats aud hogs baing
raised 10 large nunterS. Tee most
remarkable growth If this island and
one which scieGtfic inquiry may
prove OF benefit to the human family,
is the seed called "Isigud, or tEc
fruit of San lgnacio, known to CON
merce as "Catbalogan seed. - 1t is in
large demand among the Chinese,
for cholera. 1t is claimed that 10 one
ever died from that cause who used
this remedy. There are many other
plants possessing well-known medi-
cinal qualities which grow on the is
land. The forests abound in woods
useful for cabinet work and ship
The mechanical industries
are devoted almost wholly to the sup
ply Of home consumption. The man
ufacture of sugar from the care and
the extraction of oil from the cocoa
nut, are the chief products OF manu-
facture for export.
fter the establishment of juris lie
ton over the archipelago and the
occupation of strategic points
On the island, Sanar became
part of the Fourth District of the
department of Southern Lu-
zon. The presence of troops from the |
very beginning met with more or les
resistance. In April, 1900, drtach-
meat of Company "a, Forty third In
fantry, was attacked at Catubig on |
the river of that name, and after a |
desperate resistance Of four days, suf- |
fereo loss of 10 killed and three |
wounded before being relieved. a
yet, civil government has not been es-
-ablished on the island.