Evening star., 1901-10-21
OUTPOSTS OF PHILIPPINES
GROUPS OF ISLANDS ACQUIRED UN-
DER PARIS TREATY.
The Datanes and pabuynnes, Lying I'm
the Channel Connecting the
Pacific end China Sea.

steamer pointing her course frem San
Francisco about southwest by west. after
traversing 2,1o0 nautical miles, would find
herself in port at Honolulu. Resuming her
voyage along the parallel of Il degrees 50
minutes north, due west 400 miles a huge
rock, rising directly before her would not
only be her landmark CT entrance to the
Bashi or Channel of Boundary, but also the
extreme norttSrn land of the Philippine
archipelago. This rock. so important 10
navigators and convenient as resting
place for birds of the sea, is known on the
chart as Y'Ami. one of the Batanes group
To navigators approaching the coast Of
Asia this rock is of great significance. From
1t they point their courses TO Hong Kong
or the mainland Of China. about 49, nauti
cal miles north BY west, also to Manila by
the northern route in southerly course 422
nautical miles and to Singapore, about
southwest 1,jGo nautical miles. Steamers
bound eastward from the same rock lay
their course to Yokohama northeast 2.556
nautical miles; to the United States via
Honolulu. as already mentioned; to Guam.
United States, east southeast /, 100 nautical
miles, and to Apia, via Guam, 400 nauti-
cal miles.
The nearest foreign soil is Formosa, or
the Island of Taiwafl, in 1895 ceded to Japan
as one of the results of the war with China.
1t lies 33 miles northwest of Y'Am 123
miles northwest by north of San Domingo
de Basco, the chief town of the group, and
aS. miles almost due north of Manila along
the west coast of LuZon.
Acquired by the Paris Treaty.
From official material compiled in the
division-of insular affairs OF the War De-
partment the following abstract has been
prepared concerning two groups of islands
in the channel OF commerce which con-
meets the waters of the Pacific and China
seas, and occupying the position of out
posts on the northern limit of the American
possessions in the far east.
The Batanes, the northern of the two, lie
$50 nautical or lib statute miles off Cape
Engano, the promontory which terminates
the northeastern coast of LuZon. The Ba-
buyanes, the southern, lie about midway
between these two points
The treaty of peace between the United
States and Spain, describing the limits of
the possessions acquired, designates the
northern line to pass through the middle
of the navigable channel of Bashi from the
11Sth to the 121th meridians of longitude
east Of Greenwich" About % miles south
of this line lifts the rocky summit of the
most northern of the Batanes. In the Bal
ingtan channel to the southwark within
United States jurisdiction and connecting
the same seas are the Babuyanes or Five
Islands,
Volcanic Origin.
The physical characteristics of both
groups indicate not only volcanic origin,
but activity Of a comparatively recent date.
At the entrance to the port of San Pho
Quinto a boiling spring shows evidence of
subterranean force. Among the Didicas
rocks upon which the United States
steamer Charleston became a wreck, is an
active volcano, and on the larger islands
are volcanic SUBMITS 2,450 to 800 feet
high In the midst of these elevations are
valleys of great fertility, with sloping
plains covered with luXuriant vegetation
The climate Of all the islands is salu-
brious, the mean temperature ranging in
the vicinity of IS degrees
The area of the two groups, comprising
thrty-eight islands, is 260 square miles,
with an aggregate population of 1889
The history of the inhabitants is wrapped
in mystery. Their relations lnguistically
would indicate a long isolation. The little
which is known of them suggests descent
from the settlements of the piratical Chi
nese chieftains who were the scourge of
the islands off the Asiatfc coast when the
first Europeans arrived, and continued to
be so until very recent years.
Santo Domingo de Basco, in Batan, and
Fuga, in the Babuyanes are the chief Aar-
bors. The inhabitants, owing to the strong
currents and the tempestuous ocean which
surrounds them, have but little communi-
cation with the mainland. There is no civil
government Spain never having formally
established authority on the islands. On
January 10, 1900, the United States steamer
Princeton took formal possession at San
Domingo de BaSco, the capital Since that
time this port has been one of the cruising
stations for the United States navy.
Products of the Island.
On the larger islands yams, sweet pota-
toes, corn, onions, garlic, rice, sugar cane.
potatoes, wheat and vegetables are grown
successfully. A fine variety of sandstone is
the only mineral known. Owing to the
heavy winds of the sea the islands are but
sparSely timbered. Among the fruits pine
apples and grapes are specially known for
their excellent quality.
The chief industry is the raising of cattle
hogs from which Babuyanes takes its
name), goats and horses. The latter, on
account of their size and merits, are in
great demand throughout the archipelago
The manufacture of lard and cocoanut oil
is also important. From the sugar cane is
distilled large quantities of a drink known
locally as palec.
The experience of the wrecked crew of
the United STATES steamer Charleston dur
ing their camp at San Pho Quinto. on the
Island of Camiguin of the Babuyanes
group, demonstrated the friendly spirit of
the natives, in return for which a large
number Of tools and unneeded articles were
turned over to them.