[25] Cf. Friar Odoric's description of the green pepper found in Malabar (called by the Arabs Balad-ul-Falfal, "the Pepper Country")--growing on vines which the natives plant against tall trees for support, and bearing fruit "just like bunches of grapes;" see Yule's _Cathay_, vol. i, pp. clxxvii, 77. [26] The tael is a Chinese money of account, worth formerly about $1.50; now $1.68, "Tael" is the trade name in China for the ounce of silver; it also designates a weight, of 1 1/3 oz. avoirdupois. [27] This lake, about seventeen miles long, is the second largest lake in Luzón. It is also named Taal, after the celebrated volcano in its midst. Its outlet is the river Pansipit. [28] Spanish _pildoras_ ("pills"); a jocular allusion to the leaden bullets from the muskets. [29] The Malay appellation _rajá_ or _raxa_, meaning "a sovereign," is used of rulers in Manila or Tondo. See Retana's note on Zúñiga's _Estadismo_, vol. ii, pp. 521*, 522*. [30] Cafre (or Kafir): a term applied by Mahometans to the heathen natives of conquered countries; it means "infidels." From this originated the name Kafiristan ("country of infidels"), applied to the region north of the Punjaub of India and south of the Hindu-Kush Mountains; its people are called Kafirs. See Yule's _Cathay_, vol. ii, p. 554. [31] _Vara_: a measure of length, equivalent to a little more or a little less (in different Spanish countries) than thirty-three English inches. [32] In the Spanish text, _se acordo dar sanctiago en los moros_,--literally, "it was decided to give the 'Santiago' among the Moros,"--the _Santiago_ ("St. James") being the war-cry of the Spaniards when engaging with Moors and other "infidels." [33] Bound up with the MS. of this document, in the archives at Sevilla, are similar official acts for "the islands of Luban, Similara, Baluyan, Helin, and Vindoro." [34] The palace of the Escorial was built in the town of that name, twenty-four miles from Madrid, by Felipe II; it was begun in 1563, and completed in 1584, except that the pantheons were added by Felipe IV. The total cost is estimated at £660,000 sterling; it is one of the largest buildings in the world, being a rectangle of six hundred and eighty by five hundred and thirty feet. It is a palace and monastery combined, the latter being in charge of the Augustinian order. [35] The matter in parentheses is side notes in the original. [36] _Tierra firme_: this term means simply "the continent," and was at that time applied to the northern mainland of South America, as distinguished from the adjacent islands. [37] Internal evidence indicates that this list was prepared in New Spain. In the MS., in the right-hand column are enumerated the articles demanded for the Philippines; on the left is a statement of articles sent--various memoranda being made on each side. As here presented, the items in the left-hand column follow (within parentheses) the corresponding items on the right hand.