Chapter 22

[27] The _banca_ was a sort of canoe made from a hollowed tree-trunk (like the American "dug-out"), sometimes provided with outriggers, to prevent it from upsetting, and sometimes with a roof of bamboo. The _barangay_ is the most primitive and most characteristic boat in the Philippines; it is described as a sharp and slender craft, pointed at both ends, and put together with wooden nails and pegs. It is this boat which has given name to the primitive groups of the social organization; see Bourne's mention of these, _Vol_. I of this series, p. 56.--_Editors_.]

"The people were divided or grouped into families, known as _barangayes_ (the name of a small ship or vessel), thus preserving the remembrance of the conveyance by which their forefathers reached the islands. As the various families came hither, each in its own barangay--all, during the voyage, being under the command of a _cabeza_ (a head captain, or pilot)--the land was partitioned among them, so much for each family; while all continued, on the land, subject to the cabezas who had directed them on the sea. These in time were known as _datós_, or _maguinoos_. See the _Crónica_ of Francisco de Santa Inés (Manila, 1892), i, p. 57; Noceda and Sanlucar's _Vocabulario Tagala_ (3rd ed., Manila, 1860); Diego Bergaño's _Vocabulario Pampanga_ (Manila, 1860); and Andres Carro's _Vocabulario Iloco-Español_ (Manila, 1888)."--_Rev. T. C. Middleton_, O.S.A.

[28] Meaning some plant used as an antidote for poison.

[29] Apparently a phonetic variant of _pangeran_ (a Javanese word adopted in Borneo), meaning "prince."

[30] In this connection may be cited Rajah James Brooke's statement, as given by Captain Henry Keppel in his _Expedition to Borneo_ (American edition, New York, 1846), p. 305: "The most detestable part of this traffic is Seriff Houseman ["a half-bred Arab" pirate in Borneo] selling, in cold blood, such of these slaves as are Borneans, to Pangeran Usop, of Bruni, for 100 rupees for each slave, and Pangeran Usop re-selling each for 200 rupees to their relations in Bruni."

[31] Apparently a sort of "dug-out," used mainly as a lighter, for unloading larger vessels.

[32] _Pulo_ (incorrectly made _polo_ in the text) is a term used throughout the Malayan archipelago referring to a small island or islet; this name means, then, "the small island Celemin."

[33] The habit of chewing _buyo_ is common through the Malaysian archipelago. It is prepared by wrapping a leaf of the betel (_Piper betel_) around a piece of the bonga-nut (the product of a palm, _Areca catechu_) and a small piece of lime. It is thought to stimulate the nerves, especially in the digestion of food; and is a notable feature on ceremonious and social occasions.

[34] Fine East Indian muslin.

[35] Probably referring to the island now known as Boeton or Butung, lying southeast of Celebes.

[36] Evidently the old port in Mindanao so called.

[37] Probably referring to the island now known as Boeton or Buntung, lying S.E. of Celebes.

[38] Reference is here made to the starchy food procured from the sago-palm, called by the natives _burí (Corypha umbraculifera)_. This tree gives name to the island of Burias, where it grows abundantly. By tapping the tree, as is done with the American maple, the sweet sap (called by the natives _tuba_ or "water-honey") is obtained, from which are made a syrup and a dark sugar; also the natives manufacture from it wine and brandy. The young shoots or buds are edible, as is the entire inner part or pith of the tree. This pith is placed in troughs, wherein it is soaked in water, which washes out certain bitter substances; it is then pounded, which causes the starchy grains to separate from the tissues of the pith. These grains are collected and dried, and made into a flour called sago (or sagú), which furnishes a nutritious and healthful food; in the islands where this tree abounds, the sago takes the place of rice. The leaves of the sago-palm are used as a covering for houses, sails for vessels, and many other purposes. See Delgado's _Hist. de Filipinas_ (Manila, 1892--but written in 1753-54), pp. 660-662, for a long and detailed description of this tree and its uses; also Blanco's _Flora de Filipinas_, p. 160, and _U.S. Philippine Gazetteer,_ p. 74.

[39] The lagoon of Liguasan, the waters of which are discharged into those of the Pulangui River at its "great bend," thus forming the Rio Grande. The Pulangui rises in the northern part of the island, about half-way between the present towns of Cagayan and Butúan. The Tirurey or Ytilurey River of our text apparently indicates a southern tributary of the Rio Grande, flowing from Mt. Tiruray.

[40] A tribe inhabiting the western part of Mindanao, but mainly located on other islands--Basilan, Sulu, Piragua, and others; they were Mahometan Malays.

[41] The ganta contains 3 litros, a little more than 1/3 of a peck (U.S.).

[42] At the top of the sheet is written, on the original MS., "Guadalupe, March 26, 1580," which apparently indicates that the decree was sent to New Spain, and promulgated by the viceroy there.

[43] "A fleet on which were some Franciscan missionaries being at Sevilla in 1576, ready to sail for the Solomon Islands, Felipe II obtained permission from Pope Gregory XIII that they should be sent to evangelize the Philippine Islands--where they arrived on June 24, 1577. They were received in Manila with enthusiastic demonstrations of joy, and soon founded a religious province, which they named San Gregorio Magno ["St. Gregory the Great"--named in honor of Pope Gregory I (A.D. 590-604)]. The marshal, Don Gabriel de Rivera, built for them the convent of San Francisco in that same year, 1577."--_Algue_ (_Archipiélago filipino_, i, p. 250).

On June 24, 1577, fifteen religious of St. Francis arrived at Manila, under the orders of Fray Pedro de Alfaro, the father custodian of the province. On June 15, 1579, Alfaro left Luzon (secretly, as our text declares, because Sande refused to permit him to go), to establish a mission in China; he was accompanied by the friars Juan Bautista, Sebastian de San Francisco, and Agustin de Tordesillas. The last-named wrote a detailed account of their journey and their experiences in China up to November 15 of that year; this relation is published in Mendoca's _Hist. China,_ part ii, book ii.

[44] Maluco, the Portuguese post on Ternate, was taken over by Spain with other colonial possessions of Portugal, when Felipe II seized the government of the latter country (September, 1580), after the death of its king, the cardinal Henrique. This union lasted during sixty years. The possession of the Moluccas of course gave to Spain the control of the spice trade.

[45] Apparently a reference to the visit of Sir Francis Drake to Ternate, in November, 1578. A full account of this visit, the friendly reception of the English by the Malay ruler, and the expulsion of the Portuguese from the island, may be found in Francis Fletcher's _World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake_ (Hakluyt Soc. pubs. no. xvii, London, 1854), pp. 137-148.

[46] Rada had died at sea, in June, 1578.

[47] Felipe II was crowned at Lisbon in April, 1581.

[48] The first bishop of Manila, and of the Philippines, Domingo de Salazar (a Dominican) arrived at Manila in March, 1581. With him came Fray Christoval de Salvatierra, of his own order; twenty Augustinians, and eight Franciscans; and two Jesuit priests, Antonio Sedeño and Alonso Sánchez, with the lay brother Nicolas Gallardo. See Juan de la Concepcion's _Hist. Phil_., ii, pp. 44, 45.