The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 Part 20

[66] The tripang or sea-slug (Holothuria edulis), which is esteemed as a great delicacy by the Chinese.

[67] Evidently the people called Guimbajanos by the historians of the eighteenth century. From Wilkes's description, they would appear to be at least partially Negrito.

[68] Banjarmasin is a princ.i.p.ality and river on the southern side of Borneo, the word meaning in Javanese "salt or saline garden." The sovereignty of Banjarmasin is said in olden times to have extended over all of southeastern Borneo. See Crawfurd's Dictionary (pp. 36, 37), where an historical sketch of the princ.i.p.ality is given.

[69] The Chinese emperor at this time was Choo Yuen Chang, the founder of the Ming dynasty, who defeated Chunti, the last of the Mongol dynasty, in 1367, and ruled from then until the year 1398. He adopted as emperor the name of Hongwon. The statements in the text may be only common report. See Boulger's Short History of China, pp. 79-87.

[70] See Montero y Vidal's account of Joloan affairs during this period, in his Historia, i, pp. 475-548, 561-581, ii, pp. 6-77, 575, 576.

[71] Manila was captured by the English October 6 (or, October 5, according to Spanish reckoning), 1762 (not 1763). See A plain Narrative (London, 1565?), p. 4.

[72] This name is derived from the large bay that makes in on the south side of the island of Mindanao, and on which a set of free-booters reside.--Wilkes.

This is the bay of Illana. Illano or Illanum means "people of the lake." At present they inhabit the south coast of Mindanao from Punta [de] Flechas to Polloc. They are but few in number, but in the past have been bold pirates. They are probably closely connected with the Malanao or Moros dwelling in the valley of Lake Lanao. See Census of Philippines, i, pp. 466, 472.

[73] Pulo Toolyan is Tulaian of the Jolo group of the Sulu Archipelago, with an area of .5 sq. mi.; Tonho may be Tango or Tangu of the Tawi Tawi group; Pilas is the chief island of its group, with an area of 8.2 sq. mi.; Tawi Tawi is the chief island of its group, with an area of 232 sq. mi.; Sumlout is perhaps Simaluc, of the Tawi Tawi group, with an area of 1.3 sq. mi.; Pantutaran is perhaps Pantocunan, of the Jol group, with an area of .6 sq. mi.; Parodasan is perhaps Parangaan of the Tawi Tawi group, or Parangan of the Tapul group; Basilan is the chief island of its group, with an area of 478 sq. mi. See Census of Philippines, i.

[74] In 1861 a number of light steam gunboats with steel hulls and of twenty or thirty horsepower were constructed in England for the Spaniards for use against the Moro pirates; and they were very effective in reducing piracy, both in the Lake Lanao district and that of Mindanao and the adjacent islands. See Montero y Vidal's Historia, iii, pp. 327, 328, and elsewhere; and Historia de la piratera, ii.

[75] The sea-gypsies. See VOL. x.x.xVI, p. 199, note 38.

[76] This treaty is as follows:

[Preceding the text of the treaty are some Arabic characters.]

I, Mohamed, Sultan of Sooloo, for the purpose of encouraging trade with the people of the United States of America, do promise hereby and bind myself that I will afford full protection to all vessels of the United States, and their commanders and crews visiting any of the islands of my dominions, and they shall be allowed to trade on the terms of the most favoured nation, and receive such provisions and necessaries as they may be in want of.

2dly. In case of s.h.i.+pwreck or accident to any vessel, I will afford them all the a.s.sistance in my power, and protect the persons and property of those wrecked, and afford them all the a.s.sistance in my power for its preservation and safe-keeping, and for the return of the officers and crews of said vessels to the Spanish settlements, or wherever they may wish to proceed.

3dly. That any one of my subjects who shall do any injury or harm to the commanders or crews belonging to American vessels, shall receive such punishment as his crime merits.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, in presence of the datus and chiefs at Soung, island of Sooloo.

February 5th, 1842.

[Here follows a signature in Arabic characters.]

Witnesses:

Charles Wilkes, Commanding Exploring Expedition.

William L. Hudson, Late Commanding U. S. s.h.i.+p Peac.o.c.k.

R. R. Waldron, Purser, U. S. Exploring Expedition.

[77] Pangutrang is the largest island of the numerous group of the same name belonging to the Sulu Archipelago, and has an area of 42 square miles. See Census of Philippines, i, p. 284.

[78] Cagayan Sulu has an area of 27 square miles. It is located in a group of 31 islands. See Census of Philippines, i, p. 286.

[79] According to Census of Philippines (i, p. 28, ii, p. 123), the area of the Davao district is 9,707 square miles, and the total population 65,496, of whom 45,272 are uncivilized.

[80] Jos Oyangren was a native of Guipzcoa who went to the Philippines in 1825, leaving Spain for political reasons. He pa.s.sed several years in the province of Caraga (now Surigao), engaged in business, and in the Calamianes. For a number of years also he occupied the judicial post in Tondo. In 1846 he was deprived of that post because such officials were thereafter appointed in Madrid. On hearing of the cession of the gulf of Davao by the sultan to the Spaniards, he visited that region. On his return he proposed to Governor Clavera to conquer and subdue the entire gulf district, expel or pacify the Moros there, and establish the Christian religion, if he were given supplies and equipment, the command of the district, and exclusive rights of trade therein. A decree issued by Clavera February 27, 1847, gave him the command for ten years and exclusive rights of trade for the first six years. He was also given artillery, muskets, and ammunition, and permission to raise a company. By the beginning of 1849 he was in peaceful possession of the entire coast-line of the gulf and then turned his attention into the interior. The government, however, did not live up to its promises, and Oyangren after the death of Clavera was removed from his command. The last years of his life (1852-1859) were spent in the fruitless endeavor to obtain what had been promised him. See Montero y Vidal's Hist. piratera, i, pp. 382-403.

[81] A vessel for the coasting trade in the Philippines. See New Velzquez Dictionary.

[82] The island of Smal is located in the Gulf of Davao, and has an area of 147 square miles. See Census of Philippines, i, p. 282.

[83] This is the Taglog word for the upper part of a village. It seems here to mean the eastern mountainous district of Surigao.

[84] Of the tribes of Mindanao, Census of Philippines, i, p. 462, says: "Going eastward in Mindanao and pa.s.sing by the central lake region, which is inhabited entirely by Lanao Moros, we come to other tribes, which, so far as I have seen, differ in no essential from the Subanon.... Around the headwaters of the Rio Grande de Mindanao they are called Man.o.bo. South of the Rio Grande they are called Tiruray, Bilan, Man.o.bo, and other names. The reason for the use of these different terms is not satisfactorily explained. There are doubtless changes of dialect between them comparable to the changes we find among the Igorots in northern Luzn, but I believe it is hardly justifiable to break up into separate tribes or divisions a population so thoroughly h.o.m.ogeneous as these pagans of Mindanao appear to be."

[85] Sangil is a local term apparently derived from the volcano of the same name. It is sometimes applied as a collective t.i.tle for pagan tribes of that region and sometimes to the Maguindanao Moros, who have settled between Craan and Makar. See Census of Philippines, i, p. 476.

[86] The Tagacaolos are closely related to the Bagobos. The word is probably derived from "olo," meaning "head," and thus "source"

(of a river), the particle ka, "toward," and the prefix taga. The entire word thus means "people who go up toward the source of the river," to distinguish them from the "Tagabawa," people who live in the lowlands, bawa meaning "down," the "region low down." See Census of Philippines, i, pp. 462, 476.

[87] This promise was fulfilled June 21 of the same year, and the letter is given in the Cartas, pp. 93-111.

[88] i. e., The district ruled over by a dato.

[89] The pagatpat (Sonneratia), called also palapad and palatpat, is frequently found along the beaches. It grows to the height of twenty feet or so. Its wood is strong and is used in ordinary construction. The fruit is very sour and a vinegar is made from it. See Blanco, pp. 296, 297.

[90] Pedro Rosell, S. J., was born at Lrida September 4, 1849, and entered his novitiate in the Society of Jesus, October 2, 1878, being already a priest. He went to the Philippines in 1880, and died in Caraga, January 4, 1888. See Sommervogel's Bibliothque.

[91] This mission belongs to the district of Mismis.

[92] i.e., From my inmost heart.

[93] i.e., We have labored in vain.

[94] The bayog (Pterospermum hastatum) is often found along the Batangas beach and in other places. Oars are made of the wood which is soft and light. See Blanco, pp. 367, 368.

[95] See citation of these verses and brief description of the sacrifice by Pablo Pastells, in VOL. XII, p. 270, note 83.

[96] It is difficult to believe that this eloquent pa.s.sage was written so recently as 1885. It furnishes a striking proof of the medievalism of thought that persevered even among the Jesuits--a medievalism that is not yet, unfortunately, entirely eliminated from the Christian sects, both Catholic and Protestant. This same thought prevails throughout the doc.u.ment.

[97] The coffee of the Philippines has a fine aroma and excellent flavor, and will compare favorably with either Java or Mocha coffee. It is said to have been brought to the islands by Spanish missionaries during the latter part of the eighteenth century and its systematic cultivation to have commenced early in the nineteenth century, although it was neglected considerably and did not in consequence attain the advanced state to which it should have attained. It was first cultivated in the province of Laguna, and subsequently in other provinces, notably Batangas and Cavite, coffee becoming quite an extensive industry. Most of the coffee was produced in the provinces named and in Tayabas, in Luzn and in Misamis and the district of Cottabatto, in Mindanao, though appreciable quant.i.ties were grown in other provinces. The highest grades of the berry were grown in Batangas Province and the most inferior in Mindanao. In 1890 and for several preceding years coffee ranked fourth in exports, falling not far short of tobacco. See Census of Philippines, iv, pp. 76-78; and Official Handbook, pp. 106, 107.

[98] i.e., The end of the earth.

[99] Belno: Birth, in the sense of representing that of our Lord Jesus Christ (Echegaray's Diccionario etimolgico). Hence it was the representation of a manger.

[100] Literally the "ma.s.s of the c.o.c.k;" the ma.s.s that is said at midnight on Christmas Eve, and hence equivalent to midnight ma.s.s.

[101] This ma.s.s is also called media. It is a ma.s.s sung, but without deacon and sub-deacon and the ceremonies proper to High Ma.s.s. In some American dioceses the use of incense is permitted at such ma.s.ses. See Addis and Arnold's Catholic Dictionary, p. 565.

[102] Or Missa solemnis, the high ma.s.s. See Addis and Arnold's Catholic Dictionary, p. 565.