Zamboanga in Mindanao is the capital of the whole Moro Province and
one of the most important ports in the Islands. Its population is
very cosmopolitan--an admixture of Moros, Filipinos, Orientals, and
Caucasians. The city was for more than three centuries the rallying
point of the Christian forces in their seemingly endless contest with
the Moro pirates in neighboring waters.
The city has a healthful site and is cooler than Manila. It has a
modern water system and electric lighting plant. It is well laid
out and maintained in park-like order for some distance back from
the pier. This area, where many of the principal buildings are, is
embellished by fountains and lily basins, ornamental stone and concrete
seats and figures and an almost complete collection of the flowering
and other ornamental trees, vines, and shrubs of the Philippines. The
Provincial Capitol, the Army Post, and Constabulary Headquarters,
the old fort of Nuestra Señora del Pilar and the Cathedral, and the
Moro market are the most interesting to inspect. Nearby is the Moro
village of Kawa-Kawa, built out over the water.
[The San Ramon Penal Colony]
In the outskirts there are several points of interest reached by
excellent roads--the gorge, which has some beautiful mountain and
river scenery, about five miles distant; the San Ramon Penal Colony
about thirteen miles from the city where an experimental farm is
being maintained. In addition to these attractions its position with
respect to Borneo, Australia, the Dutch possessions, and the Malay
Peninsula gives it great potential importance as a trade center.