Military notes on the Philippines. September 1898 online

There are 7 feet of water at high water on the bar of the river,
which flows from the lake of Taal and enters the bay about a
mile from the town. The inhabitants of Taal, like those of
Balayan, are engaged chiefly in agriculture, care of cattle,
and in fishing; provisions are plentiful, and there is active
commerce with the Province of Manila.

Point Benagalet, the western point of Kalumpan Peninsula,
is a rocky bluff fringed by a narrow reef, which runs all
around the southwest of the peninsula to near Point Cazador.
This part of the coast is clean, with soundings of 25 fathoms
close to ; it is of regular height and covered with wood.

Point Cazador is the southern end of Kalumpan Peninsula,
which separates the bays of Balayan and Batangas. It is
formed by a tongue of land of regular height, covered with
trees; off the point, and joined to it, are some rocks, and on
its eastern side a narrow reef, with soundings of 3 to 11 fath-
oms at ^ cable distance, which soundings deepen abruptly to
65 fathoms at 2 cables from the southern part.

Batangas Bay, contained between Point Cazador and Point
Matoko, 9 miles to the ESE., penetrates 9 miles to the north-
ward ; it is clear and deep, with steep coasts. From Point
Cazador the coast for 6 miles to the NNE. is steep, rocky, and



LUZON — SOUTHWEST COAST. 59

wooded; it can be passed without danger at a distance of i of
a mile. From thence the coast is low, with sand beaches cut
into by the little rivers Balito, Buang, Batangas, and Kaluni-
pan.

Batangas River, whicli enters to the eastward and very near
to the town of the same name, is so shallow that a canoe can
hardly enter it at low water, and even at high water boats
have a difficulty in going up it. There is a watering place up
the river at a little distance from the mouth, and farther up
the river divides it into two branches ; one branch is directed
to the eastward, and with some windings passes close to the
town of Batangas, at f of a mile from the mouth ; the other
branch is to the southeast, and joins the river Kalumpan.
To the west of the mouth there is a sand bank, which is mostly
uncovered at low water.

Kalumpan River enters f of a mile from the Batangas
River. The bank which forms its bar is 2 cables wide, and
uncovers at low water, so that it is difficult even for the light-
est canoes to enter. The river brings down volcanic ashes
and pieces of pumice stone, which together form both its
banks and the bar, and cover part of the bottom in the neigh-
borhood.

Coast. — From the river Kalumpan the coast trends to the
southward, forming a small bay with a beach of sand and
mangroves ending in a little point at 1+ miles from the river.
The bank of sand which commences at the mouth of the
river Batangas and borders all this part of the coast at a dis-
tance of 2 to 3 cables terminates here. This bank dries in
places at low water; the depth near its northern edge is 12^
fathoms, mud; off its southwest extreme, 11 fathoms; and at
its southern end 7 to 30 fathoms, whicli depth increases to 82
fathoms at less than 2 miles from the Batangas coast.

Pinamukan Point lies SSW. 3 miles from the little point
where the bank ends; the coast between these points is of
regular height and well wooded, with soundings of 5 fath-
oms close to the shore and -tO to 50 fathoms at the distance of
1 mile; to the eastward of Point Pinamukan it forms an
angle, into which flows a small river of the same name as the
point. Fresh water may be obtained from this river, but
with difficulty, as it is necessary to go some distance up for
it, and the river is very shallow. From Point Pinamukan
the coast trends about SSW. for 3 miles to Point Matoko, and



00 LUZON — SOUTHWEST COAST.

is of regukir licight and wooded, with detaclied rocks close to
tlie shore.

Anchorage. — From Point Buaiig to Point Pinamukan the
whole coast is formed of sand beaches, and vessels of all sizes
can anchor off it, but necessarily very close to the shore on
account of the great depth of water. Between Buang and
Batangas a depth of 14 fathoms, mud, will be found at less
than 2 cables from the shore, and this anchorage is preferred
by the vessels that frequent the coast, on account of its good
holding ground and its proximity to those two towns. In
case of necessity, anchorage can be had on the coast east and
west of the above road, but very close to the shore, and on
bottom of gravel and rock.

Point Matoko, which forms the eastern extremity of
Batangas Bay, is high, wooded, and precipitous, with one
low point to the southwest. The coast to the eastward is
rocky for 1^ miles, as far as a sloping point (Ilijan) ; it then
forms a slight indentation, ending to the eastward in Point
Arenas. In this bay small coasters find anchorage during
the northeast monsoon, to avoid the ebb stream. The shores
of this part of the coast are covered with the Palo Maria, a
tree of the natural order Outtifenv , which yields a valuable
gum.

Point Arenas, the second point from Matoko, consists of
sand and stones, which serves to distinguish it ; it is low and
clean, and the tidal streams rush past it with great force.
Point Taliji, li miles ENE. of Point Arenas, is not very
prominent; it is rocky and wooded; to the westward of the
point good water can be obtained, which comes from a valley
of Mount Taliji. From here to Point Rosario, 2^ miles ENE.,
the coast is covered with trees, and shows a sandy beach
fringed by rocks close to.

Rosario River debouches at 2| miles from the point of the
same name; it is ^ cable wide at the mouth, and the two
points which form the entrance are both prolonged by a spit
of sand ^ cable in length. The bar is 1 cable in width, and
composed of sand and gravel with rocky patches on it ; the
entrance channel, which is between the bar and the north-
west entrance point, is hardly ^ cable wide and only 3 or 4-
feet deep at low water and 6 feet at high water, which depth
diminishes farther up the stream. The river divides into
two branches ; fresh water can be obtained from the northern



LUZON — SOUTH COAST. 01

one, but canoes must be used to get it. From Kosario River
to Malabrigo Point the shore is sandy, wooded, and of regular
height.

Anchorage can be found in northerly winds for v^essels of
all sizes between Points Matoko and Malabrigo, but the shore
is very steep, and at less than 2 cables from it the depth is
from 8 to 13 fathoms. Bottom, coarse sand and gravel.

Punas or Lobo Point is the central point of the broad head-
land formed by the spurs of the Sierras de Lobo ; Malabrigo
Point is the western, and Malagundi (or Galban) the eastern
point of this headland. The coast comprised between them
is of moderate height and well wooded, rocky between Mala-
brigo and Punas, and bordered with sand beach and rock
from here to Malagundi, off which point lies a little islet sur-
rounded by rocks. Punas Point is remarkable by some red
patches at a short distance from the beach, and the Sierras
de Lobo, 3,363 feet high, serve to indicate the i^osition from
the southeast.

SiGAYAN OR LoKOLOKO PoiNT. — From Malagundi Point
the coast shows the same sand beach for 4 miles to the little
river Sigayan, where the high land of the Sierras behind
Punas Point terminates. The river is narrow and shallow,
and fresh water can be obtained at a little distance from the
mouth. No description of Sigayan Point itself is to be found
in the Spanish Derrotero.

AncJwrage. — Vessels of all sizes can anchor between Mala-
gundi and Sigayan, but close to the shore, which is very steep.
The bottom is generally of coarse sand mixed with gravel.

SOUTH COAST.

Tayabas Bay. — From Point Sigayan or Lokoloko the
shore is of the same nature for 4 miles ENE. to Point Ban-
tiki, which is surrounded by rocks to the distance of 3 cables.
The land behind these headlands is low and thickly wooded,
and appears almost entirely sunk when seen from the neigh-
borhood of the south point of Marinduque.

KoLOKONTO Bay. — At 1^ miles NW, of Point Bantiki is
the southeast point of an inlet named Kolokonto Bay, the
entrance of which is f of a mile wide, and which runs 1 mile
inland; there is a small islet within it covered with trees,
and in front of the entrance several rocks which mostly dry



0:2 i.rzox — south coast.

at low water. This inlet serves as shelter to small craft in
soutliwest gales.

Coast. — From the northwest point of Kolokonto Bay the
coast trends round to the northward ; it is of regular height,
wooded, and bordered by a sand beach. The River Nayun
enters the sea at 6 miles from the last point. Its mouth is
only ^ cable wide and 1| fathoms deep at low water inside
the bar, which itself is 2 cables wide with 3 feet least depth.
At \ mile up the stream from the entrance are several wooded
islets, and here the river divides into two arms, both of salt
water. The river Nayun offers shelter to small coasters, for
at its mouth there are from 2 to 4 fathoms, lessening toward
the islets.

Anchorage. — Vessels of all sizes can anchor off the coast
between the mouth of the river and Kolokonto Bay, at \ of a
mile from the shore, in 12 fathoms, mud.

Tayabas River. — The coast from the river Naj^un is low,
and bordered with sand beach as far as the river Tayabas,
which is f of a cable wide at the entrance ; its bar is 2 cables
wide, and in the entrance channel the depth is 1 fathom at
high water, increasing within 2 fathoms. Native craft, called
parados and karakoas, frequent this river, and armed launches
sometimes go up as far as a place named Kota, at 1 mile from
the mouth. The channel is easy to recognize by the stakes
])laced every year by the natives. Fresh water can be ob-
tained at some distance from the mouth.

Reef. — A small shoal which uncovers at spring tides lies i
mile SW. by S. of the mouth of the river; from this shoal a
reef extends G^ miles ESE., fronting the coast to a distance
of Gi- miles from Bantiki Point, the eastern point of Pagbilao
Bay, and nearly closing up the mouth of that bay. The
soundings off the edge of this reef are irregular, from 3 to 11
fathoms.

Pagbilao Bay, which lies between Bantiki Point and Pag-
bilao Island, is of wide extent, but the available part of it is
reduced by reefs to a circular space of about 1| miles diameter.
A pilot is needed to enter this bay, on account of the reefs
which border the entrance near the southwest point of Pag-
bilao Grande ; the depth of the channel is from 8 to 10 fathoms ;
and of the space within, from 3 to 5 fathoms, mud.

. Pagbilao Grande Island is of triangular form and nearly
joined to the main land, forming with it the bays of Pagbilao



LUZON — SOUTH COAST. 63

to the west, and Languinmaiiok to the east. Mount Mitraon
the northeast part is 285 feet high. The southern point is
steep-to, having a depth of 13 fathoms, mud, at 2 cables from
it. This is the point to make for to enter the Bay of Paghila< >.
Pagbilao Chica is united to the larger island by a stri]) of
sand ; it is crescent-shaped, forming to the westward the little
bay of Kapaluan, at the mouth of which is 15 fathoms, sand,
diminishing to oj fathoms, rock, at the edge of the shoal water
that fills the upper part of the bay.

Languinmanok Port is reduced by reefs from the coasts on
both sides to a channel 7 cables wide and 3 luiles long, in
which the soundings gradually lessen from 11 fathoms to 2^,
sand and mud. Great care must be taken to keep clear of
the reefs, which advance from both sides of the entry, nar-
rowing the channel considerably, and of two shoals which lie
in line with Languinmanok Vantay, and a rock 3 cables S. ^
W. of it. These shoals are situated respectively S. 50" W.,
and S. 30° W. of Point Tublig Mangayao.

Tides. — It is high water, full and change, at 1 :30; springs
rise oi feet.

Coast. — The eastern shore of Tayabas Bay, from Languin-
manok Port to Point Tuguian, is of moderate height, and
fringed with reefs, which extend to 2 miles from shore in some
places ; on the edge of these reefs the soundings are from 3^
to 12 fathoms, and from 15 to 18 at a little distance. There
is anchorage in 4 or 5 fathoms, sand and mud, off the mouth
of a little river which enters near a bay north of Silankapo
Point, 12 miles from Languinmanok. The town of Kalailayan
is near this river.

SJioal. — There is a rocky shoal 2 miles NW. of Silankai:»o
Point, extending 1 mile from NE. to SW., with 10 fathoms,
coral, outside of it, and 8 fathoms in the narrow passage be-
tween it and the shore reef.

PiTOGO. — At 5 miles ESE. of Silankapo Point is Mabio
Point ; and 2 miles ENE. of Mabio is the small town of Pitogo,
with anchorage before it in 4 fathoms. When making for
this anchorage, vessels must keep close to the western shore,
as the coast to the eastward is very foul, with rocks at a short
distance from it.

Tuguian Point. — The coast reef projects only 4- mile off
this point, and anchorage can be found under the j^oint in 9
fathoms, mud.



64 LUZON— SOUTH COAST.

Shoal. — At 3i miles NW. ^ N. of Point Tuguian there is a
rocky shoal of small extent, with 3^ fathoms otf its southern
edge, and 10 fathoms off the northeast side; there is a passage
between it and the coast from which it is separated 1|- miles.

Caution. — In navigating this coast, it should not be a])-
proached within 3 or 4 miles. In the passage between Tuguian
Point and the island Mompog the flood tide sets to the SE.
and the ebb to the NW.

Katanauan Bay, 5 miles ESE. of Point Tuguian, is clean
and off'ers shelter from northerly and easterly winds in 3-j to
7 fathoms, sand and mud. A river flows into it, and on the
left bank is the town of Katanauan. The west point of the
entrance is of sand, and the other mangroves. Both points
send out reefs, the western to a distance of 1 mile, and the
eastern to 2 miles.

Between Katanauan and Malanai, a distance of 6 miles, the
depth is 9 fathoms, sand, at 1 mile from the coast.

Malanai Anchorage is in a bight of the coast ESE. of Point
Ajus. A river enters the sea at the l)ottom of the bight,
having on its left bank the town of Malanai (or Yendo), in
front of which there is anchorage in 5 fathoms, mud.

Point Lipata is hilly and covered with mangroves and sand
patches; a ridge of rocks extends some distance to the north-
ward of it.

The coast between Malanai Bay and Bondog Point is
fringed with rocks which extend to i mile from the shore to
the northward of Ayoni Bay.

Shoal. — A rocky shoal, 1 mile in extent, with 3 fathoms
water at the edge and 7 to 13 fathoms around it, lies about 2
miles NW. of Subunguin Point, and 3 miles from the coast.
The channel between this shoal and the coast reef is 2 miles
wide, clear of danger, and 17 to 24 fathoms deep.

PiNAMUNTANGAN PoiNT. — Aguasa Bay, to the northward
of Point Pinamuntangan, has rocks • before its entrance.
Pinamuntangan Bay, between Aguasa Bay and Point Pina-
muntangan, is small and open to the west. It is bordered on
its northern and southern sides by a beach of sand and man-
groves; to the northward of the point is a depth of 11 fath-
oms, shoaling gradually to the shore.

The coast from Pinamuntangan Point runs 7^ miles to the
SE. to Bondog Point, ending in a sandy beach with detached
rocks near it.



LUZON — SOUTH COAST. 65

BoNDOG Head (Cabezo de Bondog) is a mountain 1,250
feet high, visible in clear weather at a distance of 30 miles.

Point Bondog is the southern extremity of the i^eninsula
between Tayabas Bay and Ragai Gulf; the vicinity is rocky,
as is also the part of the coast to the NE. ; but the lowland soon
reappears, and continues as far as Point Arena. The face of
the coast here presents several open bays with sandy beaches,
offering good anchorages of sandy bottom; the depths in
them decrease gradually to 8 fathoms at a short distance from
the shore ; the heights are wooded, and the plains afford good
pasturage. There are several herds of buffaloes ; and ante-
lopes abound, which may be hunted without difficulty.

Shoals. — At 3 miles ENE. of Point Bondog, and 4 miles S.
G0° W. of Point Arena, there is a rocky shoal ; the anchorage
NE. of it is good.

Marinduque Island, situated before the eastern entrance
of Verde Island, is nearly circular, with its greatest diameter
24 miles. It is mountainous and elevated, having a range of
hills on its eastern side running north and south, consisting
of the mountains Tapian, San Antonio, and Marlanga. The
soil is fertile, but it offers few resources, the principal produc-
tion being rice.

There are two ports, of no gi'eat importance — that of San
Andres, to the NW., and of Santa Cruz, to the NE. — and
several small bays which offer shelter, according to the sea-
sons, on the east, south, and west sides, but these anchorages
are not very good, and the coast towns are very poor.

Port Banalakan, or San Andres, is surrounded by high
wooded land, and vessels can lie inside in all security. The
anchorage is confined, but the depth is good, 10 to 12 fath-
oms, mud. There is an inner harbor which can be entered
by towing or warping through the narrow passage, hardly a
cable wide, and obstructed by an islet in the middle of the
channel. This inner basin is of f of a mile extent, and of 5^
to 8 fathoms depth, muddy bottom, A large vessel would
find herself not only sheltered in it from all winds, but com-
pletely hidden, for it is entirely closed in, and its existence
would not be suspected without previous knowledge.

Directions. — On entering or leaving Port Banalakan, the
southern shore must be kept, at 1 cable length from which
are 10 to 18 fathoms, in order to avoid a rocky patch of great
extent off the north side of the entrance ; this patch has \ of



66 LUZON — SOUTH COAST.

a fathom on it, and lies SE. of two islets surrounded by rocks
that are before the entrance. The entire northwest headland
of the island is foul.

Water is difficult to obtain, as it is necessary to go well up
the river to obtain it fresh, and when there it takes a long-
time to fill the casks.

San Andres Islets are two islets which stretch rather more
than a mile to the west of the northwest point of the island
Marinduque. The distance between them is 1 cable, and the
same between the nearest of them and the shore. These pas-
sages are foul, but the sea fronts are clear.

Point San Andres, the northern point of the island, is
mountainous and very steep.

North coast. — Between Point San Andres and Point Santa
Cruz, 8^ miles to the eastward, the coast is formed into two
bays by Trapichihan Point. That to the westward, though
lined with rocks, is deep, having 22 fathoms in the middle;
that to the eastward is closed by a reef which projects between
the islets off Point Trapichihan and continues as far as Santa
Cruz, with soundings of 10 fathoms at its edge. Point Santa
Cruz is low and covered with mangroves. A reef, with large
rocks awash at low water, advances from its point a mile to
the ESE. and forms, together with another reef that projects
from the island Santa Cruz (Anibaya), the northern mouth
of Port Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Port is only fit for small craft, but larger ves-
sels can find anchorage, with sandy bottom, in the channels
formed by the islands at the entrance, or, in case of need,
they can penetrate farther by warping, but great care is
required to avoid the detached rocks. The town affords but
few resources.

Directions. — To enter by the north channel, bring the island
Santa Cruz to bear SE., give sufficient berth to the reef that
extends from it, and follow the chamiel to the south by sound-
ings until the port is opened; the soundings are from 6 to IG
fathoms in the passage and 5 toward the anchorage, slioaling
to 3 fathoms, mud, off the baluarte.

To enter by the east channel, pass the island Santa Cruz at
one-third of the distance between it and Marinduque, which
will give the deepest water ; this channel is less tortuous than
the northern one, and the soundings are more regular; the
width is 1 mile from side to side.



nOMBLOX ISLAXD



PORT ROMBLON



Jahirol SaUt itf3B>




LUZON — SOUTH COAST. (J7

Anibayas. — This is the name of the .2:roup of three islands
before the port Santa Cruz, Maniuayan, and Mompog. The
two first are low to the westward, of regular height in the
middle, and hilly to the eastward. All three are surrounded
by reefs, which narrow the channel between them. These
channels are only used by coasters. A vessel leaving Santa
Cruz Port by the northern channel in order to go southward
should keep all these islands on the starboard hand, giving
them a berth of a mile, to clear their reefs, which project thus
far, and she should not trust a smooth appearance of the
water. If driven to take the passage between Maniuayan
and Mompog, she should keep near to the latter island, for
the reefs from Maniuayan approach to within ^ mile of
Mompog.

Salomague Point, 8^ miles SE. of Santa Cruz, is the east-
ernmost point of the island ; it is low and covered with man-
groves. The coast between these points is fringed with rocks
to a distance of 4- mile out from it ; the soundings at the edge
are 6 to 11 fathoms, rock, increasing to 54, mud, at 2 miles
from it. Between Salomague and Point Marlanga there is a
bay, in the southern part of which, between points Kabuyok
and Paniki, there is a good anchorage near the shore, in 12
fathoms, mud.

Marlanga Point is dominated by a high mountain, the
northwest shoulder of which marks the commencement of the
anchorage. The coast is safe from Point Marlanga to Point
Saban (ch. 7, p. 67), and may be approached to within 2 cables,
at which distance the soundings will be 20 fathoms. These
two points are spurs of the above-named mountain.

Elephant Islet, about | mile south of Point Saban, is a steep
sugar-loaf rock, with a few trees upon it. On the northeast
side there is a little creek with a sand beach and 4|- fathoms
depth. Between the islet and Marinduque there is 12 fathoms,
sand. The French chart gives a little reef off Saban, but it
must be small.

Tres Reyes are three islands of moderate height, peaked
and clean, except the easternmost, Gaspar, which has rocks on
its east side. Between these islets and Marinduque there is
a safe passage if care be taken to avoid a shoal of 2^ fathoms
nearer the coast of Marinduque than the middle of the
passage.

Point Banod, or Gazan, is fronted by a reef which extends
i mile to the SE., and joins the shore again off the town of




Ban^odl'



LUZON — SOUTH COAST. (j7

AxiBAYAS. — This is the name of the .^roup of three islands
before the port Santa Cruz, Maniuayan, and Mompog. The
two first are low to the westward, of regular height in the
middle, and hilly to the eastward. All three are surrounded
by reefs, which narrow the channel between them. These
channels are only used by coasters. A vessel leaving Santa
Cruz Port by the northern channel in order to go southward
should keep all these islands on the starboard hand, giving
them a berth of a mile, to clear their reefs, which project thus
far, and she should not trust a smooth appearance of the
water. If driven to take the passage between Maniuayan
and Mompog, she should keep near to the latter island, for
the reefs from Maniuayan approach to within | mile of
Mompog.

Salomague Point, 8^ miles SE. of Santa Cruz, is the east-
ernmost point of the island ; it is low and covered with man-
groves. The coast between these j)oints is fringed with rocks
to a distance of ^ mile out from it ; the soundings at the edge
are 6 to 11 fathoms, rock, increasing to 54, mud, at 2 miles
from it. Between Salomague and Point Marlanga there is a
bay, in the southern part of which, between points Kabuyok
and Paniki, there is a good anchorage near the shore, in 12
fathoms, mud.

Marlanga Point is dominated by a high mountain, the
northwest shoulder of which marks the commencement of the
anchorage. The coast is safe from Point Marlanga to Point
Saban (ch. 7, p. G7), and may be approached to within 2 cables,
at which distance the soundings will be 20 fathoms. These
two points are spurs of the above-named mountain.

Elephant Islet, about | mile south of Point Saban, is a steep
sugar-loaf rock, with a few trees upon it. On the northeast
side there is a little creek with a sand beach and 4^ fathoms
depth. Between the islet and Marinduque there is 12 fathoms,
sand. The French chart gives a little reef off Saban, but it
must be small.

Tres Reyes are three islands of moderate height, peaked
and clean, except the easternmost, Gaspar, which has rocks on