[2] The betel is a species of pepper plant, the leaves of which are wrapped round areca nuts and the chunam--the latter is a kind of burnt-lime made of shells, and the areca nut is the fruit of a species of palm. The Indians, Chinese, half-breeds, and a great number of Creoles, continually chew this mixture, which is reputed to sweeten the breath and assist digestion. [3] During six months the winds blow continually from the north-east, and during the other six months from the north-west: these two periods are termed north-east monsoon and north-west monsoon. [4] At their head was Don José Fuentès, my constant friend. [5] Don Simon Fernandez, Oidor at the Court Royal. [6] The most bitter enemies of the Tinguians are a race of cruel, blood-thirsty savages, who inhabit the interior of the mountains. They have also to fear the Igorrots, who live nearer, but who are less savage. [7] Evil Spirit. [8] A malicious divinity of the Tagalocs. [9] It is on account of this cruel custom of beheading their victims that the Spaniards have given to these savages the name of "corta cabesas," "decapitators." [10] Banditti. [11] "The nakedness of the poor might be clothed out of the trimmings of the vain."--Dr. Goldsmith's "Vicar of Wakefield."--Tr. [12] The Igorrots, however, according to the reports of the Indians, are not anthropophagi; perhaps the one in question had received these ragouts from some other savages--the Guinans, for instance. [13] It would be difficult to establish from what nations the divers species of men who inhabit the interior of Luzon originally came. The Tinguians, from their fine shape, their colour, their eyes, their almost aquiline nose, the value they set upon china vases, their music, and finally from their habits, would appear to be the descendants of the Japanese. It is most likely that at a very distant period some junks from the Japan coasts, hurried along by strong northern winds, may have been wrecked upon the Luzon shores, and that their crews, seeing no possibility of returning to their native country, as well as to avoid the Malayan population that was in possession of the beaches,--it is possible, I say, that the shipwrecked persons withdrew into the interior of the mountains, the difficulty of access to which protected them from all invasion.