[5] Iua: a Tagálog word for a weapon resembling a dagger. See ut supra. [↑]
[6] Wm. A. Reed (Negritos of Zambales, p. 26), commenting on Salazar’s description of the Zambals, which is condensed from Perez, says: “Of course it is impossible to tell how much of this is the product of the writer’s imagination, or at least of the imagination of those earlier chroniclers from whom he got his information, but it can well be believed that the natives had a religion of their own and that the work of the missionaries was exceedingly difficult.” In this connection, it is interesting to note that Perez later vouches for the entire truth of whatever he has written. [↑]
[7] The original reads: presidiendo las ceremonias Bis. The transcriber of the document for the present editors has added the following note: “The structure and meaning of this word is not well understood.” It is the Latin word Bis, meaning “in a twofold manner,” indicating that the god Malyari presides over both the feast and the honors to the deceased. [↑]
[8] Balata is also used by the Tagálogs to signify “abstinence from something in memory of any person.” See Noceda and Sanlucar’s Vocabulario. [↑]
[9] The Spanish for “to play at ring” is correr á la sortija. This is an equestrian sport, which is played by taking an iron ring as large as a Segovian ochavo (a small brass coin). This ring is fitted into another piece of iron, from which it can be easily withdrawn. The latter is hung from a cord or pole a few feet from the ground, and the horsemen and others who take part in the game, taking the proper distance, go toward the ring at a run. The one who bears off the ring on his lance is declared the winner. See Dominguez’s Diccionario. [↑]
[10] A word of respect in the Tagálog dialect. [↑]
[11] Even when I was a missionary to the heathens from 1882 to 1892, I had occasion to observe the said policy, to inform the chief of the fortress of the measures that he ought to take, and to make a false show on the other side so that it might have no influence on the fortress. (Note by Dominican transcriber.) [↑]
[12] The same thing was advised by father Fray Remigio Rodriguez del Alamo to Don Narciso Claveria y Oscariz, in respect to the different tribes of Ifugaos. (Note by Dominican transcriber.) [↑]
[13] This was Gregorio Giraldez, who reached the Philippines in 1679. He was a Galician by birth and professed in the Dominican order August 31, 1666. He was immediately sent to the province of Zambales, being appointed in 1682 vicar of Alalang, and in 1684, of Paynaven. In 1686 he became superior of the Manila convent. He filled the offices also of procurator-general, president of San Juan de Letran, and vicar-provincial. His death occurred at Manila, May 28, 1702. See Salazar’s Historia, p. 130; and Reseña biográfica, ii, pp. 215, 216. [↑]
[14] Juan de la Nava went to the Philippines in 1684, and was assigned immediately to Masinloc, in the province of Zambales, which post he filled for four years. In 1690 he was appointed vicar-provincial there, at the same time having in charge the house at Paynaven. His death occurred August 24, 1691. See Salazar’s Historia, pp. 583, 584, and Reseña biográfica, ii, p. 252. [↑]