DEPttlW 





CHINESE POTTERY IN THE PHILIPPINES 



When the Spaniards first set foot in the Philippines, they found 

 evidences of trade with an advanced nation. When near Leyte, 

 Magellan stopped for a time at a small island whose chief "embraced 

 the captain-general to whom he gave three porcelain jars covered with 

 leaves and full of rice wine." 1 Later when Pigafetta and his com- 

 panions went ashore, they were treated to wine taken from a large jar, 

 and when the meal was served, "two large porcelain dishes were brought 

 in, one full of rice, and the other of pork with its gravy." 2 When 

 they reached Cebu (April 7, 1521), they were informed by the king 

 that they were welcome "but that it was their custom for all ships which 

 entered their ports to pay tribute, and that it was but four days since 

 a junk from Ciama (i. e. Siam) laden with gold and slaves had paid 

 tribute." The tribute was refused but friendly relations were estab- 

 lished, whereupon the king "had refreshments of many dishes, all 

 made of meat and contained in porcelain platters, besides many jars 

 of wine brought in." 3 



When Pigafetta visited the king of Zubu (Cebu), he found him 

 "seated on a palm mat on the ground, with only a cotton cloth before 

 his privies. . . From another mat on the ground he was eating 

 turtle eggs which were in two porcelain dishes, and he had four jars 

 of palm wine in front of him covered with sweet smelling herbs and 

 arranged with four small reeds in each jar by which means he drank." 4 



Later they were conducted to the house of the prince "where four 

 young girls were playing, one on a drum like ours, but resting on the 

 ground; the second was striking two suspended gongs alternately with 

 a stick wrapped somewhat thickly at the end with palm cloth; the 

 third, one large gong in the same manner; and the last, two small 

 gongs held in her hand, by striking one against the other, which gave 

 forth a sweet sound. . . These gongs are made of brass and are 

 manufactured in the regions about the Signio Magno which is called 

 China." 5 After the death of Magellan, the fleet sailed to the south 



1 Blair and Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Vol. XXXIII, p. 15. 



2 Ibid., p. 119. 



3 Ibid., p. 139. 



4 Ibid., p. 149. This is still the method of drinking in Mindanao (compare 

 PI. I). 



5 Blair and Robertson, (Pigafetta) Vol. XXXIII, pp. 149-151. 



