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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 41 of 55, 1691-1700: 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 close of the nineteenth century.

History

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 41 of 55, 1691-1700: 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 close of the nineteenth century.

Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources

The Joloans remained at peace, as thoroughly chastised as were the
Mindanaos, curbing their haughty arrogance, and repressing their hatred
in consideration of the advantages of the time. Among the agreements
for the peace, they accepted one that a fort for the Spaniards
should be erected at their harbor-bar; this was maintained with many
difficulties and little advantage, unless from the pearl-fishery,
which yielded many and valuable pearls. [88] The island of Joló abounds
in these, so that on the Dutch hydrographical maps they have given it
the name "Island of Pearls," on account of the many fine pearls which
the Joloans sent in those years to Nueva Batavia by ambassadors from
their king, asking their alliance, and aid against the Spaniards. The
Dutch granted them protection, those valuable gifts arousing in them
greater desires for profit--although afterward the first aid that they
furnished the Joloans cost them very dear. But in this year of 1641
the Joloans had a fortunate opportunity for recouping themselves for
past expenses, with a mass of amber [89] as large as an ox's body,
which the sea cast up on their shores, which yielded them great
profits, and increased the reputation of their island. This sort
of find is usually very frequent in those islands, since they are
beaten by many currents which flow from the archipelago; and thus goes
drifting on the waves what the sea hurls from its abysses, along with
other debris, under the fury of the wind--this so precious substance,
whether it be the excrement or vomit of whales, or a reaba which the
sea produces in its depths. But in Joló it is apt to be more often
found, because those islands are scattered and their coasts prolonged
for many leguas opposite many currents and channel-mouths. And for
this reason some amber is usually found in Capul, an island beaten by
so many currents--as the ships which come on the return from Nueva
España know by experience--and also in Guiguan and on the beaches
of Antique. Near Punta de Naso the sea cast up, in the year 1650,
an enormous piece of amber, although it had not the fine quality and
excellence of that which comes from Japón. (Diaz's Conquistas, p. 447.)

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 41 of 55, 1691-1700: 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 close of the nineteenth century.

Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources

The Joloans remained at peace, as thoroughly chastised as were the
Mindanaos, curbing their haughty arrogance, and repressing their hatred
in consideration of the advantages of the time. Among the agreements
for the peace, they accepted one that a fort for the Spaniards
should be erected at their harbor-bar; this was maintained with many
difficulties and little advantage, unless from the pearl-fishery,
which yielded many and valuable pearls. [88] The island of Joló abounds
in these, so that on the Dutch hydrographical maps they have given it
the name "Island of Pearls," on account of the many fine pearls which
the Joloans sent in those years to Nueva Batavia by ambassadors from
their king, asking their alliance, and aid against the Spaniards. The
Dutch granted them protection, those valuable gifts arousing in them
greater desires for profit--although afterward the first aid that they
furnished the Joloans cost them very dear. But in this year of 1641
the Joloans had a fortunate opportunity for recouping themselves for
past expenses, with a mass of amber [89] as large as an ox's body,
which the sea cast up on their shores, which yielded them great
profits, and increased the reputation of their island. This sort
of find is usually very frequent in those islands, since they are
beaten by many currents which flow from the archipelago; and thus goes
drifting on the waves what the sea hurls from its abysses, along with
other debris, under the fury of the wind--this so precious substance,
whether it be the excrement or vomit of whales, or a reaba which the
sea produces in its depths. But in Joló it is apt to be more often
found, because those islands are scattered and their coasts prolonged
for many leguas opposite many currents and channel-mouths. And for
this reason some amber is usually found in Capul, an island beaten by
so many currents--as the ships which come on the return from Nueva
España know by experience--and also in Guiguan and on the beaches
of Antique. Near Punta de Naso the sea cast up, in the year 1650,
an enormous piece of amber, although it had not the fine quality and
excellence of that which comes from Japón. (Diaz's Conquistas, p. 447.)

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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