[32] The word "taels" is Retana's conjecture; but it is possible that the doubtful word was _joyas_ ("ornaments"). From the context, it is more probably _quintos_ ("fifths"), indicating that the royal officials attempted to exact from the Indians the "king's fifth" on all their possessions of gold, as well as on that newly dug from the ground. [33] That is, as no longer in circulation (Span., _por perdido_). The reference is to the native custom mentioned by Sande in his report of 1577 (see _Vol_ IV of this series, p. 99). Speaking of the best grade of gold used by the Moros, he says: "From this is made the jewelry which they inherit from their ancestors, with which they never part." [34] A term originally applied to the gold or silver wristlets and anklets worn by Moorish women. [35] In the form of promissory notes, such as always have been so much used and abused in the Philippines.--_Retana_. [36] Span., _perlados_; so in Retana's text, but from the context there is apparently some error in this--perhaps a copyist's conjecture for some illegible word. [37] This man was notary of the expedition sent to Borneo and Mindanao by Francisco de Sande under command of Gabriel de Rivera. See _ante_, _Vol_. IV, p. 273. [38] Fray Santa Ines says (_Cronica,_ i, p. 16) that the use of this phrase (Spanish, _Islas del Poniente_) arose among Spanish traders--partly because, to reach the Philippines, they followed the course of the sun westward from Spain; and partly to sustain the contention that those islands were "in the demarcation of Castilla, or the Western Indias, and not in that of Portugal, or Oriental India."