In this complaint of want of labour it is not always the native who is to blame, and if a mine cannot afford to pay a reasonable price for labour, it had better stand idle.
Probably the one great reason why mines have not prospered in the Philippines is that there has never been slavery there, as in Cuba, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, ancient Egypt, and other great mining countries, where whole populations have been used up to minister to the avarice of their fellow-men.
Names of some Metals in Tagal.
| Gold | Guinto. |
| Silver | Pilac. |
| Copper | Tangsó. |
| Lead | Tinga. |
| Tin | Tinga puti. |
| Iron | Bacal. |
| Steel | Patalím. |
| Forged Steel | Binalon. |
| Coal | Uling. |
Gold.
From my remarks upon the other minerals it will be seen that I have no illusions on the immediate prospects of working them.
With gold, however, it is different. For centuries large quantities have been collected or extracted, mostly, no doubt, from placers, still some rich veins are known to exist.
The early writers agree that gold is plentiful. Dampier says: “Most, if not all, the Philippine Islands are rich in gold.”