The Bahia de Manila is one of the finest basins iu the world. It is nearly of a circular form, and measures from 20 to 25 miles in every direction. It is nearly free from shoals, and contains excellent anchorage. The tides iu this bay are very irregular during the north-east monsoon, when the low tides run through the Boca Chica or northern entrance, with rather a strong current for 18 hours, whilst the high tides last only six. The rise is about three feet at full and change. A hilly country begins west of the bay and a mile or two from the shores, and extends eastward to the Laguua do Bahia. This lake is about 20 miles long, and on an average 10 miles wide, but it is divided into two nearly equal parts by a projecting tongue of laud and an island situated opposite its termination. The surface of the water is about 36 or 40 feet above the sea-level of the bay. The water of the lake is carried off by five very narrow channels, which soon unite, and, being joined by a small river, constitute a wide and tolerably deep stream, called the Rio Pasig, which flows westward to the Bahia do Manila, and has its outlet between the two towns of which the capital consists. The country that surrounds the lake and extends on both sides of the Rio Pasig ia very fertile and populous.
From the banks of the river and of the lake the country rises gradually to the Routh for 10 or 12 miles, when followed by a tract of land the surface of which is extremely uneven, and has a number of isolated mountain summits scattered over it, many of which rise to a considerable height. This region is volcanic, and between the heights are many lakes, some of them of considerable 'size. The Laguna de Taal contains a volcanic island, from which an eruption issued in 1754, and which showed activity in 1325.
The peninsula of Camarines, or the south-eastern part of the island of Luzon, is not connected with the north-western part by a range of mountains. Towards the eastern extremity of the isthmus, which connects both parts, the mountains entirely disappear, and where the two bays called Seoo de Lemon and Seno de Ragay approach nearest to one another, and are only about 15 miles apart, the intervening country is low, and constitutes a valley several miles wide, which runs across the island from one bay to the other. This peninsula is chiefly occupied by a mass of tigh mountains, which come close to the southern shores, and only in a few places leave a narrow strip of level ground. But the northern declivity of this range is not so steep, and terminates about 6 or 8 miles from the sea. On this tract, and at a short distance from the mountain range, there are ten volcanoes, of which that of Albay or Mahon is noted for the frequency of its erup tions. There is a considerable number of agricultural settlements on
this volcanic tract, especially in the country surrounding the Bahia de San Miguel. This bay is about 25 miles long from north to south, with an average width of 12 miles.
2. Mindoro, which is separated from the island of Luzon by the Little Strait of Mindoro, and from the islands of Calamianea by the Great Strait of Mindoro, is 100 miles long, and rather more than 40 miles wide on an average. Its area, according to Berghaus, is 4115 miles. The mountains which occupy the interior rise to a very great elevation ; but they descend in gentle slopes, and the sea-shore is skirted by low hill", which are covered with forests of lofty trees. There is only a small number of Malay families settled on some points of the coast.
3. Panay has the form of an isosceles triangle, the blew of which is more than 100 miles long, and the other aides more than 80 miles. The area, according to Berghaus, is 4579 square miles. Along the western coast the country is of moderate elevation, well cultivated, and populous; villages are numerous. At some distance from the shore, a mountain ridge runs from l'unta Potol, on the north, to Punta Naaog, or Naso, on the south, and appears to be very steep.
4. -Vesper Li about 140 miles long, with an average width of about 23 miles. The surface, according to Iterghaus, is 3327 square miles. It seems to be very mountainous, and contains a comparatively small number of agricultural settlements.
5. Zebh, or Cebti, extends in length from south to north rather more than 100 miles, but it is hardly more than 20 miles wide on an average. The area, according to Berzhaus, is 2193 square miles. It is fertile and well populatsd.
6. Bohol, situated between Zebil on the west and Leyte on the east, is the smallest of the larger Philippines except Masbate. It extends In length from west to east about 45 miles; with an average width of 3'J mil a Berghaus determines the area to be 1354 square miles.
7. Leyte, or Leine, extends from south to north about 120 miles, with an average width of 35 miles. According to Berghaus, the area is 4257 square mike.
8. Samar, or, as it is also called by the natives, flabal. is the largest of the Philippines which are subject to Spain, next to Luzon. It has the form of a triangle whose apex Li turned to the south : the base measures about 60 miles, and the perpendicular length about 115 miles. The surface is 5547 square milet A great part of this island, especially towards the north, is covered with high mountain*, which are visible from a great distance at. sea. The sell in general, though not distinguished by fertility, is far from being sterile.