The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 05 of 55: 1582-1583; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 05 of 55: 1582-1583; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
_Province of Bulinao_. Next comes Bulinao, also inhabited by Cambales;
but the province belongs to his Majesty. It has a population of about
four hundred peaceful Indians, besides many more who live among the
mountains. The latter are a warlike people, whose only delight and
satisfaction is in waging war and in cutting off one another's heads,
which they hang up in their houses. The man who can display the most
heads in his house is he who is most respected and feared by all. They
cultivate the land although only in small tracts. They are like the
Chichimecos of Nueva Espana, who cannot be subdued--except that the
villages of Bulinao, as I have said, contain about four hundred Indians
who are pacified. These people recognize a God in heaven; but in times
of trouble and sickness they invoke their dead and their ancestors,
like the people of Visaya.
_Bay of Pangasinan_. About five leagues farther is the province of
Pangasinan. Its bay is about six leagues around. Three large rivers,
which flow from the mining district of the mountains, fall into this
bay. This province has a peaceful population of four thousand. The land
is allotted to six encomenderos; but the best portion of it, which
has one thousand men, belongs to his Majesty. The people resemble
the Cambales above mentioned, in both dress and language; but they
are more intelligent, for they are traders and traffic with the
Chinese, Japanese, Borneans, and the natives of other islands. This
province abounds in food supplies, such as rice, goats, and swine;
and many buffaloes are hunted. The main occupation of this people is
commerce; but they are also good farmers, and sell their articles of
food and clothing to the miners; the gold that they obtain in return
for these they barter with the Spaniards. The men are very jealous
of their wives, whom they kill immediately if caught in adultery;
nor do the relatives of the latter resent the deed. These people,
like the Pintados, kill their children if they have many, in order
that they may not live in poverty.
_Alcalde-mayor of Pangassinan_. For two years this district has had
one alcalde-mayor, who receives a salary of one hundred pesos. From
this province one can go by land to Manilla, over a very smooth and
good road, having to travel only fourteen or fifteen leagues to arrive
at the Capanpanga River.
_Port of Japon_. Four leagues farther is a port which is called the
port of Japon. There is a settlement of [Spaniard: _crossed out in
MS_.] Indians, of the same race as those of Pangasinan.
_Alinguey and Baratao_. Six leagues farther are the villages of
Alinguey and Baratao, with a population of about two thousand. Once
they were allotted to one encomendero, but now they belong to the royal
crown. The people are of the same race as those who inhabit Pangasinan.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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