MINDORO, mt•n-do'ru. One of the Philip pine Islands, among which it ranks seventh in size. It is situated south of the main body of Luzon, from which it is separated by a sea channel, miles wide (Slap: Philippine ands, F 7). Its extreme length from northwest to southeast is 110 miles. and its greatest width is 58 miles. The area of the mainland is 0 10, and of the 20 dependent islands 68 square miles, making a total of 4108 square milts. The island has an oval shape with no large indentations, though there are a number of small bays and several almost land-locked harbors. The coasts, though generally having deep water close to shore, are lined, especially along the west side, with submarine reefs. Mindoro is, next to Min danao. the most elevated of the Philippine Isl ands. The whole interior forms a mountainous plateau, reaching in Mount Ilalcrin the height of 8860 feet. Almost the whole of the island, from the mountain summits to high-water mark, is covered with unbroken virgin forests, though in the narrow strip of lowland along the west ern coast there are some prairie and marshy regions. The rivers are all short and simple streams running down from the edge of the plateau on all sides, there being no large river system. The climate is more variable than that prevailing in the southern islands, and Mindoro is .especially exposed to the monsoons. The proximity of the forests to the coast towns ren ders these unhealthful and subject to inter mittent and typhoid fevers.
In spite of the fertility and natural wealth cif the island, its economic mnditions are in a very backward state. A very small portion of it is cultivated. and the yield of agricultural prod ucts is scarcely enough for home consumption. The cultivation of sugar. cotton, and hemp is increasing, and a little of the latter is exported. The mineral wealth is believed to lie eonsiderable. hut only the coal-beds and sulphur springs have begun to be exploited. The principal exports are forest products, such as timber and pitch, and the forests also are the basis of the principal indus tries—wood-cutting and rattan-splitting. Com umnieation is almost exclusively carried on in coasting vessels, the interior being a rough and pathless wilderness.
The population of Mindoro was estimated in 1901 at 106,000. including sonic 30.000 savages inhabiting the interior. The inhabitants are chiefly Malayans, with a few Visayans, and the languages spoken are Visayan, Alanguiano, and Tagfilog. By the act of the Philippine Com mission of June 23, 1902, 7.slindoro was incor porated in the Province of 'Marinduque, with the capital at Mac. situated on the island of Marin duque (q.v.). See PHILIPPINE 'ISLANDS.