[45] "Although Spain had jurisdiction over these islands for more than three centuries, little topographic information had been acquired regarding them, except such as was of a very general character. The coasts were badly mapped, and in many places are now known to have been miles out of position. The coast charts, made from Spanish surveys, are so inaccurate as to be, on the whole, worse than useless to mariners, while of the interior of the larger islands, little was known except what could be seen from the sea." Census of the Philippines, i, p. 51. [46] The population is given by the Census for 1903 (ii, p. 30) as 743,646. [47] On my arrival at Singapore, this circumstance was investigated by a court of inquiry. The result showed that Mr. Knox had no knowledge of the Vincennes having been seen; for the officer of the watch had not reported to him the fact.--Wilkes. [48] The full name of this village is San José de Buenavista. It is the capital of Antique. [49] The crest of the mountains in Panay is a few miles inland from the west coast. Among the peaks of that range, are the following: Usigan, 4,300 ft.; Agótay, 3,764 ft.; Madiaás, 7,466 ft.; Nangtud, 6,834 ft.; Maymagui, 5,667 ft.; Llorente, 4,466 ft.; Tiguran, 4,900 ft.; and Igbanig, 4,343 ft. See Census of Philippines, i, p. 69. [50] Wilkes accompanies (p. 349) this description of Caldera fort with a sketch. [51] There are two islands called Sangboy, one called the north island and the other the south island. They both belong to the Pilas group of the Sulu Archipelago, and are less than one square mile in area. See Census of Philippines, i, p. 283. [52] Wilkes presents figures of both the whole canoe and a cross section, on p. 353. [53] For the methods of fishing in the Philippines, see Official Handbook, p. 151. Wilkes also mentions (v, pp. 321, 322) various methods, namely, by weirs, hooks, and seine. The former are made of bamboo stakes in the shallow waters of the lake of Bay where it empties into the Pasig. The nets used in the bay are suspended by the four corners from hoops attached to a crane by which they are lowered into the water. The fishing-boats are little better than rafts and are called saraboas. [54] Evidently at the village of Joló. [55] On p. 354, Wilkes presents a sketch of houses at Soung--the typical Moro house. [56] A full-page engraving of the "Mosque in the town of Sooloo" faces page 354 of Wilkes's narrative. [57] Chewing the betel-nut and pepper-leaf also produce this effect, and is carried on to a great extent among these islanders.--Wilkes. [58] Cf. the description of the betel caskets given by Morga, VOL. XVI, p. 99. [59] The Sultan, on the visit of one of our merchant-vessels, had informed the supercargo that he wished to encourage our trade, and to see the vessels of the United States coming to his port.--Wilkes. [60] An engraving made from this sketch is given by Wilkes facing p. 358.