Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 1507

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

ZAMBOANGA

Zamboanga is located on the south-western extremity of Mindanao Island in latitude 6 deg. 55 min. north and longitude 122 deg. 5 min. east, being 512 nautical miles south of Manila. The City of Zamboanga covers an area of about 400 square miles, much of it sparsely populated jungle, and has a population of 131,455 persons. Since the opening of the Port of Davao its volume of business has dwindled_con- siderably. Once a transhipping point for hemp there is now practically no hemp exported from Zamboanga. Copra, lumber, desiccated coconut and cutch are the chief exports. The harbour is partially protected by two small islands and is never visited by severe storms, as it is south of the typhoon belt. It has a good anchorage for steamers of any size, and the wharf will accommodate steamers drawing 25 feet. The climate is characterized by a remarkable evenness of temperature and a com- paratively small rainfall which increases rapidly as one goes a few miles from Zamboanga in any direction.

Communication with other ports is assured by inter-island steamers. Teleg- raphic communication with various parts of the Archipelago is secured by a wireless station connecting with cables and land lines.

Zamboanga was founded by the Spaniards in April, 1635, for the purpose of inter- cepting Moro corsair fleets which were accustomed to pass the Strait of Basilan from southern Mindanao to the Visayan Islands. The town was repeatedly attacked by the Moros. In 1646, it exchanged shots with a Dutch fleet and, in 1798, maintained an all- day bombardment with an English squadron. In 1872, for putting down a mutiny of prisoners, Zamboanga was granted by the Madrid Government the title "Loyal and Valiant Town." On May 10th, 1899, the revolutionists attacked the Spanish garrison in Zamboanga, which withdrew on May 24th. The town was burned during the hostilities. During the summer of 1899, the Republic of Zamboanga was in full control, but the town was finally surrendered to the American blockading squadron without bloodshed on November 16th of the same year.

Zamboanga is the capital of the province of the same name.

Good roads extend along the coast in either direction from the town to the city boundaries.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 1507

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