The Philippine Islands, 1493 1898: Volume XVIII, 1617 1620 by Various

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[33] Apparently referring to the hostilities in the preceding year
between the Dutch and English at Pulovay, a small island near Banda
(see _ante_, note 8). See list of Dutch forts in 1612-1613 in the
Moluccas, in _Voyage of John Saris_.

[34] A court minute of the English East India Company, dated November
12, 1614, has the following in regard to Dutch opposition to the
English in the East Indies: "Yett he [_i.e._, John Saris] found the
Dutch very opposite to hinder the English in their proceedings all
that ever they might, as well by vndersellinge, contrarye to their
promyse, at [_sic_] by all other means of discouradgement, makeinge
shewe of waunte without any occasion."

(See _Voyage of John Saris_, p. lxiv.) Regarding the competition and
hostility between the Dutch and English in the trade of the Indies,
which often led to open warfare (as at Banda in 1617-1618), see _Voyage
of Sir Henry Middleton_ (Hakluyt Society's publications, London 1855),
and Kerr's _Collection of Travels and Voyages_ (Edinburgh, 1824),
viii and ix. The attempts of James I of England to win alliance with
Spain lend some color to the proposed English-Spanish alliance in
the Moluccas.

[35] Apparently referring to the importation of quicksilver (via
Manila) from China to Nueva Espana. (Sec _Vol_. XVII, p. 237.)

[36] These islands were discovered in 1568 by Alvaro de Mendana;
but for various reasons nothing was done to make them available as a
conquest, and their location became so doubtful that many geographers
disbelieved their existence, and even removed them from the maps. These
islands were not rediscovered until late in the eighteenth century. See
the Hakluyt Society's publication of the narratives of Mendana and
others, _Discovery of the Solomon Islands_ (London, 1901), with
editorial comments by Lord Amherst of Hackney and Basil Thomson.

[37] From internal evidence it is apparent that this relation is
written from Nueva Espana, a thing which the reader must constantly
keep in mind; also that it was written in 1619--probably in January
or February, as it was considered by the Council in May of that year.

[38] Delgado (_Historia_, pp. 418, 419) and Blanco (_Flora_,
pp. 428-429) describe a tree called _dangcalan_, or _palo maria_
(_calophyllum inophyllum_--Linn.), which is probably the tree referred
to in the text. While generally a tree of ordinary size, it is said
to grow to huge dimensions in Mindanao. Besides its use as above
mentioned, an oil or balsam is distilled from the leaves, or obtained
from the trunk, which has valuable medicinal uses, in both external
and internal application. This oil sometimes serves to give light,
but the light is dim, and to anoint the hoofs of horses. It blooms
in November, the flowers growing in bunches of seven or nine each;
and its leaf is oval and tapering. The wood is light, exceedingly
tough, and reddish in color. It is very plentiful in the Visayas,
and generally grows close to the water. It is known by a number of
different names, among them being bitanhol or bitanjol, and dincalin.

[39] Perhaps the guijo (also spelt guiso or guisoc; _Dipterocarpus
guiso_--Bl.), a wood of red color, which is strong, durable, tough,
and elastic; it produces logs 75 feet long by 24 inches square, and is
now used in Hongkong for wharf-decks and flooring, but in Manila for
carriage shafts (_U.S. Gazetteer of Philippine Islands_). Blanco says
that this tree is much esteemed for carriage-wheels, and is also used
for topmasts and keels. The Indians call it guiso, but the Spaniards
have corruptly called it guijo. It is common in Mindoro.

[40] Probably the lauan (also called lauaan and sandana; _Dipterocarpus
thurifera_--Linn.), a reddish white or ashy wood with brown spots,
used chiefly in the construction of canoes, and producing logs 75 feet
long by 24 inches square (_U.S. Gazetteer_). Blanco says that this
tree yields a fragrant, hard, white resin, which is used instead of
incense in the churches. San Agustin, quoted by Blanco, says that the
planks of the sides of the ancient galleys were of lauaan, for balls
do not chip this wood. Delgado mentions two species: lauaan mulato,
in color almost dark red; and lauaan blanco (white), which was used
as planking for boats.

[41] That is, the cubit; a measure of length equal to the distance
from the elbow to the end of the middle finger. The _codo real_,
or royal cubit, is three fingers longer than the ordinary codo. The
geometrical codo is equivalent to 418 mm., and the codo real to 574
mm. See Velasquez: _New Dictionary of Spanish language_ (New York,
1902).

[42] The banaba (_Lagerstroemia speciosa_--Pers.; _Munchausia speciosa;
Lagerstroemia flos reginae_--Retz.) grows to a height of thirty to
fifty feet, and varies in color from reddish white to dull red. Its
flowers are red and very beautiful, and bloom in March. The tree is
very common and used for many things, especially for ship and house
construction, particularly the red variety. It is strong and resists
the elements well. See _U.S. Gazetteer_ and Blanco's _Flora_.

[43] Perhaps a colloquial name given by the Spaniards, or a corruption
of the native name.

[44] See _ante_, note 39.

[45] Also called the dungol and dungon (_Sterculia cimbriformis_;
D.C.). It yields logs 50 feet by 20 inches square. It is pale reddish
in color, and is used for roof-timbers and the keels of vessels. It
is strong but does not resist the seaworms. It blooms in March and
December. See _ut supra_.

[46] _U.S. Gazetteer_ mentions the various woods used for shipbuilding
as follows: Yacal or saplungan (_Dipterocarpus plagatus_--Bl.),
betis (_Azaola betis_--Bl.), dungon, and ipil or ypil (_Eperua
decandra_--Bl.), for keels and stern-posts; antipolo (_Artocarpus
incisa_--Linn.), for keels and outside planking; molave (_Vitex
geniculata_--Bl.), for futtock-timbers and stem-crooks for frame-work;
banaba, for outside planking and beams; _guijo_, for beams, masts, and
yards; batitinan (_Lagerstroemia batitinan_), for keelsons and clamps;
mangachapuy or mangachapoi (_Dipterocarpus mangachapoi_--Bl.), for
water-ways and decktimbers; amuguis (_Cyrtocarpa quinquestila_--Bl.),
for upper works and partitions; palo-maria, for futtock-timbers,
masts and yards.

[47] The offices of those in charge of the building of ships
would seem, from the following law, to have been a sinecure in the
islands. This law is taken from _Recopilacion de leyes_, lib. v,
tit. xv, ley viii. "The governors of Filipinas appoint persons to build
the galleons or boats, who are wont to cause great thefts and injuries
to our royal treasury, and on the Indians. For their occupation they
are given ten or more toneladas of cargo in the trading ships, on
account of being relatives or followers of the governors. Some have
had as many as forty toneladas, and have filled them with gold at forty
reals per tae, or seven and one-half castellanos--forcibly seizing it
from the Indians at an unjust price, in order afterward to sell it at
ninety-six reals per tae. Inasmuch as they are persons of influence,
their residencia is never taken. We order that the residencias of such
builders, and of the others who shall have received and had money from
the royal treasury for shipbuilding or any other sea or land expense,
shall be taken, at the same time as those of the presidents and
ministers who are obliged to give them. In respect to the governors
not employing their relatives and kinsmen, servants, or followers,
or those of the auditors, in these matters or in any others, they
shall keep the rules and ordinances." Felipe IV, August 19, 1621.

[48] Short, round-headed tarpauling nails.

[49] Apparently another name for the palm-tree called by the Tagals
_cauong_ (_Arenga saccharifera_--Labill.; _Caryota onusta_--Bl.),
also known as _negro cabo_ ("black head"). The leaf yields fibers
that are long, black, and very strong; the cordage made from them is
very durable, resisting even salt water. This is evidently the product
elsewhere mentioned as "black cordage." See _U.S. Gazetteer_, p. 72;
Blanco's _Flora_, p. 511. Concerning the abaca, see _Vol_. III, p. 263.

[50] That is, the natives were drafted from their respective villages
for public works--nominally for wages paid them, but in reality,
as this document alone would show, kept in a condition of practical
slavery. Cf. the royal decree of May 26, 1609 (_Vol_. XVII, p. 79),
regulating the services of the Indians.

[51] _Habas_: a species of bean. _Garbanzos_: see _Vol_. XII, p. 88,
note 17.

[52] _Gerguetas_, for _jerguetas_: a coarse frieze or other coarse
cloth.

[53] Our transcript reads at this point: "_quedaron en la ciudad
de manila y puerto de cabite siete galeones los seis el uno de los
quales._" We omit translation of the words "_los seis_," "the six,"
as being apparently a _lapsus calami_.

[54] See description of this naval contest _ante_, p. 37.

[55] See _Vol_. XVI, p. 272, _note_.

[56] The prebends of Spanish cathedrals directly above the prebends
of canonries; or, the incumbents thereof.

[57] The racionero and medio racionero are prebendaries of Spanish
cathedrals, ranking in the order named.

[58] The fourth vow of the Jesuits binds to implicit obedience in going
wherever the pope orders them to go for the salvation of souls. The
other three vows are the same as those professed by other religious.

[59] The original is "_todos alcaran luego de eras_," literally
"all will immediately finish their harvesting of grain."

[60] Pyrard de Laval says--in his _Voyage_ (Hakluyt Society's
publications, London, 1887-88), ii, pp. 256, 257: "When one is making
a voyage from Goa, one says to which quarter one is going, whether
to the south or the north coast. 'The north' is from Goa to Cambaye,
'the south' from Goa to the Cape of Comori.... From Bassains [Bacani
of our text; the modern Bassein] comes all the timber for building
houses and vessels; indeed, most of the ships are built there. It
also supplies a very fine and hard free stone, like granite; ... All
the magnificent churches and palaces at Goa and the other towns are
built of this stone." The editors of the _Voyage_ add: "Bassein,
twenty-six miles north of Bombay, was ceded to the Portuguese in
1536. It became the favorite resort of the wealthier Portuguese,
the place being noted for handsome villas and pretty gardens. It
was taken by the Mahrattas in 1739, after a siege of three months,
in which the Portuguese, for the last time in India, fought with
stubborn courage." Bassein was captured by the British in 1780. The
term "Mogors" in the text refers to some of the kings who were vassals
of the Great Mogul (_Vol_. XVII, p. 252).

[61] Diego de Pantoja, born in 1571, became a novice in the Jesuit
order at the age of eighteen. Seven years later he embarked to
join the mission in Japan; but on reaching Macao he was assigned as
companion to the noted Jesuit missionary, Mateo Ricci, and the two
founded the mission of Pekin. Being later expelled from the kingdom,
Pantoja died at Macao in January, 1618 (Sommervogel). Ricci died at
Pekin in May, 1610. In the archives not only of Spain, but of Italy,
France, and England, are many and voluminous documents referring to
the Catholic missions in China. The Jesuit missions there are very
fully recounted in _Lettres edifiantes_.

[62] See Henry Yule's account of "Nestorian Christianity in China,"
in his _Cathay and the Way Thither_ (Hakluyt Society's publications,
London, 1866), pp. lxxxviii-ci; cf. pp. clxxxi-iii, and 497. Regarding
the Jews in China, see _ut supra_, pp. lxxx, 225, 341, 497, 533.

[63] In 1618 the Manchu leader Noorhachu invaded the province of
Liaotung--now a division of the province of Sheng-King, and lying on
the northern coast of the Korean Gulf; its southern extremity forms a
long, narrow peninsula which terminates at the entrance of the Gulf
of Pe-chili, and on it are the fortified posts of Dalny and Port
Arthur, important strategic points commanding the entrance to that
gulf, and prominent in the present war (May, 1904) between Russia and
Japan. In Liaotung are also the important towns of Mukden and Niuchuang
(Newchwang). In 1621 Noorhachu captured Mukden, and soon conquered
the rest of the province; and, about twenty-five years later, his
successors completed the conquest of China, expelling the Ming dynasty
(which had begun in 1368), and establishing that of the Manchus, which
still rules in China. For a detailed description of this conquest, see
Boulger's _History of China_ (London and New York, 1900), pp. 97-125.

[64] There is an apparent hiatus here; perhaps it should read "before
the last invasion."--_Trans_.

[65] Boulger says (_History of China_, p. 107): "During this campaign
it was computed that the total losses of the Chinese amounted to 310
general officers and 45,000 private soldiers." Noorhachu defeated
three Chinese armies, and captured the towns of Fooshun, Tsingho,
and Kaiyuen.

[66] A phonetic rendering of Wanleh (_Vol_. III, p. 228). See account
of his reign in Boulger's _History of China_, pp. 97-107.

[67] The Christian religion was first introduced into Cochinchina (a
kingdom founded in 1570, by a Tonquin chief) by Spanish Franciscans,
in 1583; but little was accomplished for the conversion of the
heathen until 1615, when both Franciscans and Jesuits entered upon
that work. See Crawfurd's account of the country, in his _Dictionary
of Indian Islands_, pp. 105-112.

[68] See letter by Bishop Arce, _post_.

[69] This name is not to be found in Sommervogel.

[70] That is, Yedo; then, as now (but with the modern name Tokio),
the capital of the Japanese empire. The Castle of Yedo, first built
in 1456-57, was the abode of the Tokugawa Shoguns from 1591--when it
was assigned to Iyeyasu, who greatly enlarged it--until the close of
that dynasty in 1868. See historical and descriptive account of this
edifice, by T.R.H. McClatchie, in _Transactions_ of Asiatic Society
of Japan, vol. vi (Tokyo, ed. 1888), pp. 119-154.

[71] The daimios constituted, under the old feudal organization of
Japan, a class of territorial nobility, who numbered about two hundred
and fifty. Under Iyemidzu (1623-51) the daimios were obliged to live
in Yedo half the time with their families; and, before this, those
nobles had been in the habit of visiting the reigning monarch at the
capital. For account of the daimios and their vassals, the samurai,
see Rein's _Japan_, pp. 318-328; and Griffis's _Mikado's Empire_,
pp. 217, 321, 322.

[72] For a narrative of the persecutions of Christians in Japan and the
suppression of that religion there, with the causes of that action
on the part of Japan's rulers--Iyeyasu, Hidetada, and Iyemidzu,
1600-1650--see Rein's _Japan_, pp. 304-311; Griffis's _Mikado's
Empire_, pp. 252-259; and J.H. Gubbins's "Introduction of Christianity
into China and Japan," in _Transactions_ of Asiatic Society of Japan,
vol. vi (Tokyo, ed. 1888); pp. 1-38--with supplementary information
thereon by E.M. Satow (who reproduces Iyeyasu's celebrated proclamation
of 1614), pp. 43-62.

[73] Cf. the account of these episodes (the maltreatment of Englishmen
by the Dutch, and the loss of the Dutch ship) given by Richard Cocks
in his _Diary_, pp. 51-76.

[74] Probably alluding to one of the two Franciscans captured by the
Moros nearly two years before (Montero y Vidal's _Hist. pirateria_,
i, p. 154), but afterward ransomed by the Spaniards--Fray Domingo de
los Martires and Fray Alonso de la Soledad.

[75] Apparently a reference to the beri-beri, a disease common in
India and other lands of Southern Asia. A similar or identical disease,
prevalent in Japan, is there known as _kak'ke_; see William Anderson's
account of this disease in _Transactions_ of the Asiatic Society of
Japan, vol. vi (Tokyo, ed. 1888), pp. 155-181.

[76] In the text this is a curious double play upon words, which cannot
be exactly reproduced in translation. The Spanish reads, _y que multos
por dar en el clavo an de dar en la herradura_--literally, "many in
striking the nail will strike the horseshoe," _clavo_ meaning both
"nail" and "clove."--_Trans_.

[77] Cocks mentions in his _Diary_ (i, p. 268) the arrival of French
ships at Bantam in 1617.

[78] Spanish, _amplitud ortiva_, meaning an angle measured on the
eastern horizon. The term amplitude, thus used (by English writers
also), is an old one in astronomical terminology. In the description
of the second comet, _al pie_ refers apparently to the head of the
comet, which is here called its foot because sometimes this point
was nearer to the horizon.--_Rev. Jose Algue_, S.J. (director of
Manila Observatory).

[79] Referring to the ancient astronomical notion that a comet was an
exhalation.--_Harry T. Benedict_ (professor of astronomy, University
of Texas).

[80] "Evidently the modern province of Awa or Boshiu (its Chinese
name), which is situated in the eastern part of Shikoku Island,
in Tokaido or "the eastern sea-road." See J.J. Rein's _Japan_, p. 9.

[81] That is, one of the fixed number of notaries assigned or allowed
to Manila.

[82] See _Vol_. x, p. 230, note 30.

[83] See _Vol_. xvii, p. 145, note 44.

[84] _Recopilacion de leyes_ contains the following law in regard to
the rations of rice: "Inasmuch as the presidents and auditors of the
Audiencia of the Filipinas Islands, and the officials of our royal
treasury are accustomed to divide among themselves all the tributes of
rice belonging to us in La Pampanga for the expense of their houses,
taking it at the price at which the tributarios give it at the harvest,
whence it happens that the rations given on our account are lacking,
and that they must be bought at excessive rates; and as such procedure
is very prejudicial to our royal treasury: therefore we order the
president and royal officials to avoid it and stop so pernicious a
custom, for thus is it advisable for our royal service." [Felipe III,
Madrid, December 19, 1618 --lib. ii, tit. xvi, ley lxxii.]

[85] The following document, preserved in Archivo general de Indias
with the same pressmark as Fajardo's letter (see Bibliographical Data,
_post_), was probably ordered to be copied as a help toward solving
these doubts.

The King: To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia of the
Filipinas Islands. I have heard that, [the command of] a company of
infantry having become vacant because of the death of Don Tomas Brabo,
and my governor and captain-general of those islands, Don Pedro de
Acuna, having appointed to it Captain Juan de Billacon--who in order
that he would accept had to be urged by the said Don Pedro, both
because he was a very worthy and deserving man and one who had done
many services, and because there was no one else to select, and because
it was an occasion when a great number of boats were expected from
China which it had been rumored were to come to attack the islands,
to revenge the Sangleys who had been killed in the insurrection of the
year six hundred and three--you issued an act, in which you ordered
that the said governor should appoint the said company in conformity to
the ordinance, and that in the meantime there should be no innovation
in anything--just as if such a matter were the chief that should be
attended to then, since it was an occasion in which the governor was
toiling so arduously in fortifying districts and strongholds of those
islands, raising ramparts, and making ditches in order to be as ready
as possible for the awaiting of so great a multitude of men as rumor
said were to attack those islands. Inasmuch as it is proper that
matters pertaining to war be solely in the charge and care of the
said my governor and captain-general, I have, after examination of
the matter by my royal Council of the Indias, considered it fitting
to issue the present, by which I order you not to interfere and
oppose the said governor in anything pertaining to war and government
matters; and when any case arises, in which any doubt may exist as
to the form and execution of it, it is my will that the orders of
the said my governor be followed and obeyed, and that you advise me,
through my said Council, of the doubt, and what shall be your opinion
regarding it; so that after my Council has examined it, the measures
most advisable to my service may be ordered and commanded. Given
Ventocilla, November four, one thousand six hundred and six years.

_I The King_

By order of the king, our sovereign:

_Juan de Civica_

I, Pedro Muno de Herrera, who exercise the office of scrivener of the
assembly of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas
Islands, had this copy drawn and drew it from the original royal decree
which is in my possession, by order of Don Alonso Faxardo de Tenca,
comendador of the redoubt in the order of Alcantara, governor and
captain-general of these Philipinas Islands, and president of this
royal Audiencia. It is a certified copy and is thoroughly revised and
collated with its original. In the city of Manila, on the twentieth
day of the month of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty,
witnesses being Ambrosio Corrales and Pedro Munoz de Herrera, junior.

_Pedro Munoz de Herrera_

[86] In the preceding document, this name appears as Juan Saenz
de Hegoen.

[87] The original if read strictly requires the above translation. It
reads "_porque son gente de mucho fruto y no se buelven tantos dellos
como de otras Religiones y particularmente la de Santo Domingo que
e entendido sean ydo delta mas de los que yo quissiera_." "_Della_"
should refer then to "_la_" and thence back to "_religiones_." But
the meaning cannot be that the religious left the order, but
rather their brethren in the islands and returned to Nueva Espana
or Spain. Fajardo's language throughout this letter is loose and
complicated, and it is possible that, "_della_" refers to the word
"_tierra_" ("country") understood, in which case the translation
would be "have left the country."

[88] Alonso Baraona was a native of Quintanario, of the province of
Bargos. He took his vows in the Augustinian college of Burgos in 1596,
and was prior of the college of Santo Nino in 1607. He ministered in
Dumangas (1608), Batan (1609), Jaro (1616), Aclan (1613), and Passi
(1614); and became definitor ami prior provincial in 1617. In 1623
he was at Bay, and died, in 1626. See Perez's _Catalogo_.

[89] The cardinal archduke Albert of Austria was the sixth son of
Maximilian II and Maria of Austria, and was born in Austria November
13, 1559. In 1570 he was sent to Spain, where he rose rapidly in
Philip's favor. In 1577 he received the cardinal's hat from the pope
and was made archbishop of Toledo by Philip in 1594. He was viceroy
of Portugal from 1584-1595, when Philip, thinking to appease the
people of the Low Countries, made him commander or regent there, and
determined to marry him to his daughter Isabel. The sovereignty of all
the Netherlands was to be left jointly to them and their heirs, and,
in case of no issue, to revert to the Spanish crown. Philip formally
abdicated his authority over the Low Countries, May 6, 1598, and their
marriage was solemnized jointly with that of Philip III, April 13,
1599, after Albert had renounced his cardinalate and archbishopric. He
died July 13, 1621, after ruling his provinces humanely and generously,
although unable to stem the current toward Dutch independence. See
Moreri's _Dictionnaire_.

[90] Jacques (Jakob) le Maire (Lemaire), the Dutch navigator, and
the first to double Cape Horn, was born at Egmond, and died at sea,
December 31, 1616. His expedition to the South Seas was undertaken at
the instigation of his father, Isaac le Maire, a well-known merchant,
and the ships were to reach the South Seas by Magalhaes's or any other
route. The two vessels were placed in command of Wilhelm van Schouten,
and Le Maire was chosen director-general. The ships were equipped at
the port of Hoorn, and set sail June 14, 1615, from the Texel. Passing
by the south-eastern corner of Tierra del Fuego, they entered and
passed through the strait that now bears Le Maire's name January
24-26, 1616. Between January 27 and 31, they doubled the Horn, which
they named for the port of Hoorn. October 28 of the same year after
various adventures among the East Indian Islands, they cast anchor
at Jacatra in Java, where the "Concorde," the only vessel left, was
sequestered as not having been sent by the Dutch East India Company;
while van Schouten and Le Maire were sent to Holland to be tried, Le
Maire dying as above stated. A relation of the expedition was written
by one of the participants. See vol. iv, pp. 531-618, _Recueil des
voyages ... de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales_ (Amsterdam, 1725).

[91] The viceroy of Nueva Espana at this time was Diego Fernandez de
Cordoba, marques de Guadalcazar. He began his term October 28, 1612,
and in 1621 was appointed viceroy of Peru.

[92] The lacuna at this point--sections 10 to 14 inclusive--with some
duplications and other peculiarities in numbering, are precisely as
in the original document.

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