4 Field Museum or Natural History — Anth., Vol. XII. 



until they reached Mindanao. There they made peace with the king, 

 and Pigafetta went ashore with the ruler, in order to see the island. He 

 describes the country, people, their customs and foods, and did not fail 

 to note that "in the house were hanging a number of porcelain jars 

 and four metal gongs." 1 Here they also learned more of the large 

 island of "Lozon" (Luzon) lying to the northwest, "where six or eight 

 junks belonging to the Lequian (Liukiu) people go yearly." 2 Pro- 

 ceeding further to the south, they encountered the island of Borneo 

 where they found many evidences of an advanced civilization and an 

 active trade with neighboring countries. Here they saw beautiful 

 porcelain jars, cups and dishes, silks and carpets. 3 



The chronicles of succeeding expeditions left many references to 

 Chinese articles and trade. 4 In the account of Loaisa's Expedition, 

 we are told of the Island of Bendenao (Mindanao) where two junks 

 from China come each year for purposes of trade. "North of Bendanao 

 is Cebu, and according to the natives it also contains gold, for which 

 the Chinese come to trade each year." 5 Again in 1543, Alvarado says 

 of Mindanao: "Upon capturing this island we found a quantity of 

 porcelain and some bells. They are well supplied with perfumes 

 from the Chinese who come to Mindanao and the Philippinas." 5 



The first (recorded) encounter of the Spaniards with the Chinese 

 seems to have been during a trip from Panay (May 8th, 1570) to Luzon 

 and Manila. When off the Island of Mindoro they learned that "two 

 vessels from China, the inhabitants of which the natives call Sangleys 

 (*. e. merchants), were in a river near by." Salcedo was dispatched to 

 reconnoiter the ships, and to request friendship with them, but the 

 Chinese made a warlike display, whereupon they were attacked by the 

 vSpaniards who after a short fight took possession of the junks. "The 

 soldiers searched the cabins in which the Chinese kept their most 

 valuable goods, and there they found silk, both woven and in skeins, 

 gold thread, musk, gilded porcelain bowls, pieces of cotton cloth, gilded 

 water jugs, and other curious articles, although not in a large quantity 

 considering the size of the ships. The decks of the vessels were full of 

 earthen jars and crockery, large porcelain vases, plates and bowls, and 

 some fine porcelain jars which they call sinoratas." 6 They also found 

 iron, copper, steel and a small quantity of wax which the Chinese had 



1 Ibid., p. 205. 



2 Ibid., p. 207. 

 * 3 Ibid., p. 215. 



4 Blair and Robertson, Vol. Ill, p. 42; Vol. II, p. 72; Vol. Ill, p. 57. 



5 Blair and Robertson, Vol. II, pp. 35, 69. 

 8 Blair and Robertson, Vol. Ill, p. 74. 



