During considerable periods they did not really pretend to exercise control over the criminal Filipinos inhabiting the west coast of the island.

Conditions as to public order were worse in Mindoro than anywhere else in the archipelago north of Mindanao and Jolo.
No less absurd are Blount's suggestions as to the general worthlessness of the island.

There are high mountains in its interior, and there are great stretches of the most fertile land in the world along its coast.

Its northern and eastern portions have a very heavy and evenly distributed rainfall, and are admirably suited to the growing of cocoanuts, hemp, cacao, rubber and similar tropical products.

In this region rice flourishes wonderfully without irrigation.