A geologic reconnaissance of the island of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago.

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A geologic reconnaissance of the island of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. I.—Narrative of the expedition
Warren D. Smith

Smith, Warren D. "A geologic reconnaissance of the island of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. I.—Narrative of the expedition." The Philippine Journal of Science 3 (December 1908), 6:473-499.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In this paper published in The Philippine Journal of Science in 1908, Warren D. Smith narrates his expedition with several scientists from the mining division of the Bureau of Science to the island of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, that aims to accomplish the rapid geological reconnaissance of the islands, examine several areas likely to prove of economic interest, sketch topographic routes, and secure information about the prospectors' work in the field. Smith also discusses several studies on the geology and geography of the southern Philippine islands, notes the distribution of different tribes within the islands, explains the climate and its ecological effects, and gives an account of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Sulu Archipelago, Cotobato, Davao and Mount Apo.
Written by Izagene Padilla; Edited by Jack Victor M. Nera


CONTENTS.
I. INTRODUCTION.
II. PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS.
III. GENERAL GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION.
IV. PEOPLE.
V. CLIMATE.
VI. THE NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION.

I. INTRODUCTION.

The Mining Bureau of the Philippine Islands, and subsequently the division of mines of the Bureau of Science, has now been in existence approximately ten years and during this time its scientific employees have visited nearly every part of Luzon and the Visayas, but up to the present the large southern island of Mindanao has been neglected. The reason for this is two-fold; work was necessary in other and more important fields and only recently have conditions been such that travel in the greater part of Mindanao has been possible without a regiment of soldiers, although even now it is necessary in many places to take a detachment of from three to twenty men, as the Moros are still disturbing the peace in certain quarters.

One or two localities on the coast were visited by members of the Cuerpo de Ingenieros de Minas during the Spanish régime and I shall allude more fully to their work in the following pages.

The existing dearth of information in regard to this island led me, as chief of the division of mines of the Bureau of Science, to undertake a general reconnaissance of Mindanao and the Sulu group. Such a general view is necessary for planning future systematic and more detailed study. The following four objects were in mind in beginning this expedition: (1) The rapid reconnaissance of the geology; (2) the examination of