with dense forests, and in the more level parts near the coast full of marshes, and very unhealthful.  The inhabitants of the coast are Tagals, but in the interior there is a low tribe of the Malayan race, probably the indigenes of the island, and called Manguianos, speaking a peculiar language and living in a very miserable manner on the products of a rude agriculture.  There are also said to be some Negritos, but of these very little is known.  There are many short streams.  The island is 110 miles long and has an area of 3,087 square miles.  The population is 106,170.  There is little known of the mountains of the interior, as the inhabitants dwell mainly on the coasts.  Mindoro constitutes one of the provinces of the Philippines under an alcalde.

The capital is Calapan, with a population of 5,585.  It is situated to the north, on the harbor of its name, defended by a fort of regular construction; it has about 500 houses, among the notable stone ones being the parish, court house and jail, and casa real.  It is the residence of the alcalde mayor and several public functionaries.  The city is situated 96 miles from Manila.

Mount Kalavite is a long-backed promontory, the western slope of which forms Cape Kalavite, and the northern slope Point del Monte; the summit, about 2,000 feet high, appears dome-shaped when seen from the west, but from the north or south it shows a long ridge fairly level; the western end of this ridge is the highest part.

The capital of the province, Calapan, is a coast town.  The inhabitants are occupied in hunting, fishing, and ordinary weaving.  The commerce is insignificant.  Sand banks extend in front of the town to a distance of one-half mile.  To clear these, the northern Silonai islet should not be shut out by Point Calapan.  On this line, near the north edge of the banks, the soundings are 36 to 46 fathoms.

The Semirara Islands form a group of eight islands, all surrounded by reefs.

Semirara, the largest of the group, is hilly, about 512 feet high at the highest part.  The west coast includes several little bays almost entirely obstructed by reefs, on the edge of which are depths of 4 3/4 to 13 fathoms; and off the town of Semirara, which stands on the top of the hill facing the largest bay, the anchorage is very bad, even for coasters.  The east coast is bordered by a reef, which extends about a mile from the northeast part of the island; on coming from the north this coast of the island must not be approached within three miles until the town of Semirara bears full west.  There is anchorage at the south of the island in 5 to 8 fathoms, sand, during the northeast monsoon.  Good coal for steaming purposes was found on the island by Captain Villavicencio, of the Spanish navy.

Tablas Island is, mountainous, and on its northern extremity is the peak Cabezo de Tablas, 2,405 feet high; generally the coasts are clear and steep-to.  Off the north end are two rocky islets, distant one cable from the coast; the larger one is clear and steep, the smaller one has rocks around it.