WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES — VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 27I 



called Tondo ; this is where the Chinese and Sangleyes Hve, and 

 helps to make this a very large and well-provided city. These 

 Sangleyes are in great majority craftsmen of great ability, diligence, 

 and accuracy in all handicrafts ; and so they set up shop in whatever 

 line seems to them most in demand and with the best prospects, 

 and a few days later they start another, no matter how hard the 

 change may appear, for they are so clever that they shine in whatever 

 occupation they follow, doing as well as if they had practiced it all 

 their lives. So this abode of these Chinese craftsmen or Sangleyes 

 who have come over from Great China to be Christians, is of great 

 importance for the city, for everything needful is to be found in 

 this suburb. 



776. These Sangleyes wear their hair very long and coiled up on 

 their heads, and they let their nails grow long ; he who has the longest 

 is considered the most fashionable ; the same is true of the hair, and 

 in fact they make these their criterion of happiness. They eat all 

 their meals with two slender little sticks, very dexterously, without 

 touching hands to food, no matter what kind it may be ; in fact, the 

 two chopsticks seem like two additional fingers to the hand, from 

 the ease and dexterity with which they use them for everything. 



777. The city has a very hot climate ; it is abundantly supplied 

 with good things at low prices. The bread generally consumed there 

 is made of rice, that being the chief grain raised on the island. There 

 are many sugar mills there, and because of that fact and the quantity 

 of delicious fruit available, there is abundance of excellent candied 

 fruit and preserves. The city has very active business. There are 

 Officials of the Royal Patrimony— Paymaster, Treasurer, and Factor ; 

 a Spanish garrison in the city, with its Militia Captain, captains and 

 other military subalterns and accessories ; and excellent galleons for 

 defense and protection at sea, in the harbors, and along the coast 

 and the country generally. 



Chapter III 



Continuing the Description of Manila and the Extensive Trade 

 Carried on There ; and of the Other Dioceses on These Islands. 



778. This city keeps expanding as a result of the profitable trade 

 carried on with Great China in silks, chinaware, and other valuable 

 and unusual specialties which are imported every year from that rich 

 and powerful kingdom ; from the Moluccas they import spices ; from 

 Japan, much other merchandise and wheat ; from other islands, pearls 



■ and precious stonesj" diamonds, rubies, amber, and other perfumes 

 and valuables — all this makes it rich and prosperous. 



