The rattan grown in this island is very fine. It is the best that comes to Manila, and the trade in it is enormous. The tree from which gum mastic is obtained grows there in great abundance, as well as other trees producing resin. The island has fine pasture lands, with large numbers of cattle, carabao, goats, and wild hogs; and there are found the famous edible birds’ nests so much prized by the Chinese that they sometimes pay for them twice their weight in silver. The island has not been very well explored, but it is said to be rich in minerals.
South of Palaúan lies the little island of Balabac. It is only thirty-six miles long and eight or ten wide, with a population of 3,000 or 4,000. Its only town is Balabac. Its forest growths are like those of Palaúan, and there is said to be an abundant deposit of coal there.
Questions.—Name some of the principal rivers of Luzon. Where is the best tobacco land in this island? Where does the finest hemp grow? What minerals are found on Luzon? Where is Laguna de Bay? What is its outlet? Where on Luzon is the best timber found? How large is Manila Bay?
What are the Visayas? What is the principal city of this group? Where is it? What are its manufactures? What are the principal products of Negros? Why is Cebu of interest historically? What is the principal crop on this island? What sort of soil has Bohol? How do the people live there? What is the principal crop on Leyte? What is its chief city? Which is the largest of the Visayan islands? How does its population compare with that of the other islands of the group? What sort of country is it? Where is the Strait of San Bernardino? Why is it famous?
Where is Mindanao? Where, on Mindanao, did Magellan first land? Are there any active volcanos on the island? What sort of climate has Mindanao? Is it a well watered country? What are its products? What is its capital city? Has it any good harbors? Where is the Sulu archipelago? What is its capital city? What sort of town is it? What do the people manufacture? Where is Palaúan? Where is the Strait of Balabac? Why is this strait important? Where is the island of Balabac?
Chapter XXII.
THE FUTURE.
We have now learned something of the different islands of the Philippine archipelago and of the possibilities that lie in them. Much has been done in the past to make this country a source of income to the Spanish crown; much, however, remains to be done, to make of the islands a country whose prosperity shall help the people themselves.
The wealth of a country is not to be estimated by the amount of its exports, or by the number of its great buildings, fine harbors, or splendid cities. A nation may have all of these while the people themselves are poor. The United States is a great and rich nation, not because of the value of its national possessions, but because the great mass of the people are fairly well off. There can be no real prosperity in a country unless the people themselves share it; there can be no just government if that government is considered as something apart from the people. The people must have a part in it before it can be a good government.