The capital is Capiz, with a population of 13,676.  It is situated 290 miles from Manila.  It has a harbor for vessels of ordinary draft, and highroads to Iloilo, Antique, and the District of Concepcion.  There is a steamer kept by the state, stopping at the harbor every 28 days and keeping up communication with Manila, Romblon, Iloilo, and Cebu.

The Province of Iloilo is to the southeast of the Province of Capiz and west of Antique.  The ground is generally level, and, being irrigated by numerous rivers, is fertile, so that tobacco, cacao, sugar cane, abaca, rice, and maize are grown; besides, there is good pasturage for raising herds of cattle and horses, and gold and other mines are known.  The principal industry is the manufacture of fabrics of sinamay, pina, jusi, etc., requiring over 30,000 looms.  The dimensions are 99 miles in length by 27 miles in width, and the population is 472,728.

The capital is Iloilo, with a population of 10,380.  It is situated 355 miles from Manila, and is the residence of the governor, captain of port, and a number of treasury, justice, and fomento officials.  It has a pretty cathedral, a seminary, casa real, and court house.  It is one of the most mercantile towns of the Visaya group, and has some industries, among which are a machine shop and foundry, a carriage factory, and a hat factory.

The Province of Bohol is bounded on the north by the sea between Cebu and Leyte, on the east by the Surigao Sea, on the south by the Sea of Mindanao, and on the west by the channel separating it from Cebu.  The province is composed of the islands of Bohol and Dauis.  They are somewhat mountainous and well wooded, and coffee, abaca, sugar cane, and tobacco are raised.  In the mountains of Bohol game is plenty, and many coal and phosphate of iron mines are supposed to exist.  Manufactures consist in fabrics of sinamay and other materials.  The area is 1,617 square miles and the population 247,745.

The capital is Tagbilaran, with a population of 8,638.  It is situated 365 miles from Manila.

The island and province of Cebu are the most important of the Visayas, on account of the central position, nature of the soil, and the industry of its numerous inhabitants.  It is bounded on the north by the sea separating it from Masbate and Leyte, on the east by the sea separating it from Leyte and Bohol, on the south by the Mindanao Sea, and on the west by the Tanon Channel and the island of Negros.  The area is 2,092 square miles and the population 504,076.  Great mountain chains cross the island; the chief of these starts at the extreme north between Point Marab on the west and Baluarte on the east, and, continuing south between the two coasts, ends almost in the center of the island.  Two other chains run along the coast, and one starts near Carcas, to the southwest of the city of Cebu, terminating on the south in Tanon Point.  The coasts are high and the rivers of little importance.