BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-19

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course with the interior by means Of rivers
and along the coasts nnder protection Of
ofaying islands.
In population, Samar has 1876, ,388 re.
2istered inhabitants and about 10000 ma
t'vs refugees living In the mountains away
from local authority.
The inhabitants are wholly of Visayan
stocx, there being no material infusion OF
fother blood Although, in numbers, not so
large as on the peighborirg islands, these
people have always held themselves well
in hand as against the encroachments OF
Spain. OF the two dominant races in the
philippine Islands, the VisayaDs number
almost two to one. They occopy the islands
which bear their name and have shown |
themselves higher type than their rival,
the Tsgalo, being colonisinh race, less
given to politics and more to industry
They also show strongly the characteristics
of their Malay origin. From the earliest
occupation Of the islands, they have kept
themselves in touch with their progenitore
Of the isles Of Oceanica by means Of expe
aitions IN pursuit OF pIuuder or peaceful
traffic.
There are 80 towns and upwards Of 800
villages.
| Catbalogan, the capitol, open to coasting
trade and Military station, has large
trade with Manila in hemp, sugar, rice, and
cocosnut oil. 1t has population of 6,062.
A peak 1,433 #. rises to the Southwest,
forming conspicuous landmark fer naviga-
tors.
Balsngiga, the scene of the recent attack
upon a detachment of Company Co." Ninth
U. s. Infantry, is situated about the centre
of the South coast on blight to the East OF
San Pedro and San Pablo bay, at the mouth
of Pnrsy river 55 miles Southeast by South
of Oatbalongan. The country inland is eI-
tremely rugged and traversed by numerous
streams, the Oatiao and Hptolos rivers en-
{ tering the Pacific ocean on the e. and the
Taguiti and Lauaan on the West. Within
/ a radius of 10 miles are the towns OF Salceda
J and Quinapundan, besides q number of
J villages on the coast Within the same
limite are no less than 2S mapped mountain
!, SUBMITS, of which 10 are creators OF efvinct
, VOLCANOES, AMI beside the rivers named, are
the headquarters Of the Lanaug, Tonquip
, and Naubay which empty into the Pacific
! ocean on the opposite side Of the Island
toward the Northwest.
, The town is IL m. E. of Oapines Poirt,
the E head of San Pedro Bay, % miles
East of the entrance to San Juanico strait,
, 90 m. s. E. o. Catbalongan, the Capital of
!, Samar, and but 80 miles Ecst of Tacloban,
the capital Of Leyte.
OF the shores of Samar, lie upwards of
200 islands, those of geographical importance
i, being Bltac. the most northern 20 N. in
area; Bri II square miles; Buad 21 square
!, miles; Cuban Grands 10 square miles; Oapul,
the mountains of which abound in copper,
,E12 square miles; DAlupiri, in which will
, b lgs, game, and crocodiles are abundant, 10
square miles; DArsm, with its valuable
fisheries, 80 square miles,; Lsguan, with its
important coast trade, IA square miles; LIN.
bacanayan, 10 square miles; Malhon, rs
square miles, lying in midchannel from the
Pacific to the inland sea of the Archipelago.
In agriculture, Samar ranks among the
most promising of the islands. The hemp
lproduct for shipment amounts annually TO
l2l,0J0, 900 pounds. There is also large
output ef sugar rice cOcoang2t for olf cNtEsss
: of less Importance The pastoral industry
J is also large, horses, cattle, carsbao, goats
and hogs being raised in large numbers.
The most remarkable growth of this
island and one which scientific inquiry may
prove Of benefit to the human family, is the
seed called "Isigud", or the fruit of San
lgnacio, unown to commerce as "OaGbalo-
gan seed", on account of the large quaint
ties grown ia the vicinity of that town. 1t
is in large demand among the Chinese, who
use it as an efficacious remedy for cholera.
Ii is claimed that no one ever died from
that cause who used this remedy. In addi-
ton, there are many other plants possessing
acell known medicinal qualities which grow
on the island.
Osing to the hostility of the natives of the
interior, little has been done in the way of
scientific inquiry to establish the mineral
possibilities of Samar. Coal, cinnabar, and
gold are reported to exist in quantities of
commercial value. Copper is also found;
particularly on Oapul island in an almost
pure state.
The forest abound in woods useful for
cabinet work and shipbuilding The mech
enical industries are devoted almost wholly
to the supply OF home consumption. The
manufacture of sugar from the cane and the
extraction Of oil from the cocoanut, is the
chief product OF manufacture for export.
After the preliminary movement which
led to the establishment of Jurisdiction sover
the Archipelago and the occupation OF stra
tegc points, the island of Ssmar became
part of the Fourth District OF the Military
Department of Southern Luzon. The pre-
senCe OF troops from the very beginning met
with mos or less resistance.
In April, 1900, on the day OF Brigadier
General X. r Hughes assuming command
OF the Department OF the Visayas, of which
Samar was part, detachment OF Comp
any III }" 43rd Infantry was attacked at
Oatuoig on the river OF that name, miles
above its mouth, on the North coast, and
after desperate resistance Of four days
suffered loss o. 10 killed and 8 wounded |
before relieved.
As yet, Civil Government has not been
established on the island.