MEDICAL SURVEY OF THE TOWN OF TAYTAY. 



Y. THE PRINCIPAL FOODS UTILIZED BY THE NATIVES. 



By E. D. Merrill. 

 (From the Botanical Section of the Biological Laboi atari/, Bureau of Science, 



Manila, P. I.) 



Comparatively little has been written regarding the dietary of the 

 natives of the Philippines, although it is a well-known fact that, in com- 

 mon with most oriental people, their staple foods are fish and rice. 

 Among the poorer classes there is probably little variation from these 

 primary articles of food, thoiigh their diet is modified by a number of 

 food products of secondary importance. Taytay is a typical provincial 

 town and its food supply seems to be almost entirely local, although it is 

 within a short distance from Manila; hence the town in this respect 

 is characteristic of most medium-sized and small settlements in the 

 Philippines. 



Here, as in nearly all other parts of the Archipelago, rice is the basis 

 of the meal, and fisli. both fresh and diied, apparently ranks as the second 

 most commonly utilized food. The town is situated in the midst of a 

 large rice-growing region, and the supply of this staple is practically all 

 local, although in times of scarcity foreign rice is brought from Manila. 

 Comparatively few varieties of rice seem to be cultivated locally, at least 

 in any great quantity. 



Most of the fresh fish found in the local markets, and apparently most 

 of tlie diied fish, are fresh-water varieties secured in Lake Bay, although 

 some dried fish originating in salt water is brought from Manila. The 

 variety found locally is very limited, the only kinds noticed by me in any 

 f|nantity being the species known as dalag and candoli, both fresh-water 

 fish hi ought from Lake Bay, and these were found fresh (alive) and 

 salted. Other varieties said to be brought into the market at various 

 times are hitang, btian-buan, talilong, talahaitoh, polos, tegiti, hito. bia, 

 (iijuiupn, tuyo and matinik. Dried fish, imported from Manila, and 

 apparently always to be found in the market or in the tiendas in greater 

 or less al)undance, are halobabai, sapsap and (Jilis. ITipon. a small fresh- 

 water shrimp, is usually abundant in the market. Xo other shellfish 

 were observed. 



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