An Historical View of the Philippine Islands, Vol 2 (of 2) / Exhibiting their discovery, population, language, government, manners, customs, productions and commerce.

by Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga

Statement of the Productions of the Philippines, transmitted to the French Minister in 1776.

Gold is found every where, but more abundantly at Gapan, in the province of Pampanga. The provinces of Pangasinan and Cagayan produce

• Lead.
• Copper.
• Iron.
• Sulphur.
• Excellent Sugar.
• Indigo.
• The Achiote, a tree, the seed of which is used for dying.
• Cotton, of the best quality.
• Oil of Cocoa, in abundance.
• Wood Oil, equally abundant.
• Oil of Louban, a species of fruit.
• Oil of Aonpoly, an agricultural production.
• Ginger.
• Camphor.
• Areka Nut, in abundance.
• Cocoa, in abundance; from this is made a beverage, the consumption of which is very great.
• La Nipe, in abundance, of which likewise a beverage is made.
• The Barro Oyesca, a species of the amadon, or tinder made of the large fungus which grows on trees.
• Pitch and Tar, in abundance.
• Cocoa Nuts, ditto.
• Pepper.
• Betel.
• The Cinnamon of Sambouanga, very good.
• Cowries.
• Tortoiseshell.
• Mother of Pearl and Pearls, often of a very fine quality.
• Deer Skins, Ox and Buffalo Hides.
• La Balate, both white and black, first, second, and third sorts, which forms a considerable branch of trade to China.
• Dried Prawns, likewise a considerable article of trade.
• Birds’ Nests.
• Wax, in abundance.
• Honey, in abundance.
• Musk, or Algalia.
• Deer and Ox Sinews, for the commerce with China.
• Fine Goimon, dried in the sun for ditto.
• Woods and Timber.
  • The Cocoa Tree, which produces the St. Ignatius’ bean, or bean of Cathalonga.
  • Red Campechy Wood, first and second sorts.
  • Eagle Wood.
  • Ebony.
  • The Narra, or red veined ebony.
  • The Tindato, entirely red.
  • Sandal Wood, not much scented.
  • Fir Trees, in the mountains of Pangasinan.
  • The Molaven, not subject to decay.
  • The Quijo,
  • for building.
  • The Banava,
  • The Calantas, or Cedar.
  • The Laguan, or red and white apple-tree.
  • The Palo Maria, for small spars.
  • The Mangue Chapuy, for lower masts.
  • There is besides these an infinite variety of different kinds of woods, which we pass over in silence.
• Lompotes, a kind of gauze manufactured at Zebu, and which is in general use in the Philippines and in New Spain.
• Sail Cloth of cotton, manufactured in Ylocos.
• Testingues, a kind of checked dimity, much worn.
• The Abaca, a species of hemp, of which cordage is made.
• The Black Gamuty, used for the same purpose.
• The Banoté, or Coyar, applicable in the same way, and of which is likewise made oakum for caulking.
• The Tobacco is excellent.
• The Corn in the provinces of Ylocos and Bay excellent.
• Rice excellent, and in great abundance.

The Quijo,	for building.
The Banava,

There is likewise a trade carried on with the Chinese in the flesh of deer, oxen, buffaloes, and horses, dried in the sun (called jerk in South America), as likewise in the tallow of all these animals.

OF THE MOLUCCAS.

The Moluccas form a considerable archipelago, which extends in longitude from Java to New Guinea. On the coasts of Papua, and adjoining islands, are formed colonies of the inhabitants of New Guinea, and which are dependencies on the Moluccas. The Dutch have factories in all the islands of this archipelago, but at Amboyna and Banda they have forts, and considerable establishments[1]. In order to preserve the spice trade exclusively, they even went so far as to set fire to the adjacent islands which produced these shrubs; but such precautions are useless, for the whole of the Moluccas, with the coasts of Papua, and even all New Guinea, produce, and will continue to produce, them, while they exist. When the French were in the habit of procuring these productions, they did not go either to Banda or Amboyna in search of them, but to Guébi and Moar. Their vessels resorted to the port of Guébi, unquestionably the finest harbour in the Moluccas, and to which the Dutch were strangers, as the French found it uninhabited. They there established themselves during the time that the King of Maba and Patanie, and the Sultan of Tidor, went in search of the precious trees which furnished the spices: they took them to the Isle of France, where they succeeded remarkably well (as we have seen in the Chapter on the Isle of France), as well as at Cayenne, to which they were transported soon afterwards.

The inhabitants of the Moluccas are in general of a swarthy complexion, approaching to black, with a yellow stain: they partake much of the Malay character, and seem to derive their origin from that nation; they have their language, their manners, and, like them, with little personal strength, are nevertheless cruel and ferocious: perhaps the harshness of their manners may be traced to the wandering and solitary life they lead in the woods, to avoid becoming the slaves of the Dutch.

The islands they inhabit are fertile, but they do not practise any cultivation, and live on sago, which grows wild in great quantities in this archipelago.