to6 The V OY 
for fear they fhiuld difcover both their Weaknefs*, and the 
Riches of thofe Kies, which abound in GoM To the 
South of Lucoftia- are twelve or fourteen other large Ifles, 
(bcfides an infinite Number of lefferones) inhabited by Spa- 
niards ; but the two Southermoft, viz. that of St. John and 
Mindanao , are the only ones not fubjedt to the Spanifh Jurif- 
didtion. The Me of St. John lies between 7 0 and 8° North 
Latitude, on the Eaft Side of Mindanao , about four Leagues 
from it. Its Length, from North North- weft to South 
South-eaft, is thirty -eight Leagues, and its Breadth about 
the Middle twenty-four Leagues. The Soil is very fat and 
fertile. The 2 2d, coming one League of the Eaft Side of 
the Me of Mindanao , with a Sotith-eaft Wind, we fteered 
along the Eaft Side towards the North End, till we came 
Into 7 0 40', where we eaft Anchor in a fmall Bay, a Mile 
from the Shore, in ten Fathom, rocky foul Ground. The 
Me of Mindanao is, next to Laconia, the largeft of all the 
Philippine Mands, its Length being fixty Leagues, and its 
Breadth forty or fifty, the South End at 5 0 North Latitude, 
and the North- weft End reaching almoft to 8° North Lati- 
tude. The Soil is generally fat ; and the ftony Hills pro- 
duce many Sorts of Trees, moft of which are not known 
among us. The Valleys are watered with frefh Brooks and 
Rivulets, and ftored with divers forts of ever-green Trees, 
with Rice, Water-melons, Plantains, Bananas, Guavaes, 
Nutmegs, Cloves, Betle-nuts, Durians, Jacks or Jackas, 
Cocoa-nuts, Oranges, &c. but, above all the reft, a fort of 
Trees, which grow wild in Groves feveral Miles long, 
called the Libby-tree by the Natives, which furnilhes the 
Sago. The poor People feed upon it inftead of Bread here 
for three or four Months in the Year. The Tree is not 
unlike the Cabbage-tree ; the Bark and Wood hard, full of 
a white Pith, like that of the Elder-tree. They cut down 
the Tree, and, fplitting it in the Middle, take out thePith, 
which they (lamp or beat well in a Mortar or Trough ; 
which done, they put it in a Cloth, and, pouring Water 
upon it, ftir it well, till the Water carries alfo the Sub- 
ftance with it through the Cloth into the Trough. This, 
after it is well-fettled, they feparate from the Water, (by 
drawing it off) and bake it into Cakes. The Sago, tranf- 
ported hence into other Parts of th tEqft Indies , is dried into 
fmall Pieces, like Comfits, and ufed, with Milk of Al- 
monds, as a good Remedy againft Fluxes, being very 
aftringent. The other Fruits, being either very well known, 
or fufficiently deferibed by divers Authors, we will forbear 
to mention in this Place. We fhall only add, that the 
Nutmegs here are extremely large and good ; but they do 
not care to propagate them, for fear the Dutch , who mo- 
nopolize the Trade of the Spice Mands, fhould be induced 
to give them a Vifit. This Me affords alfo both wild and 
tame Beafts, as Horfes, Cows, Buffaloes, Goats, wild Hogs, 
Deer, Monkeys, Guanoes, Lizards, Snakes, Scorpions, 
(whofe Sting is in their Tails) and thofe called Centepees, 
or LIundred-legs by the Englijh , no bigger than a Goole- 
quill, but five Inches long : They fting fiercer than a Scor- 
pion. Gf tame Fowls they have only Ducks and Hens ; 
but, of the wild Kind, Pigeons, Parrots, Paraqu^toes, Turtle- 
doves, Bats as big as our Kites ; and of fmall Bij-ds an infi- 
nite Number. Their Hogs feed in prodigious Herds in 
the Woods, and have thick Knobs growing over their Eyes. 
In the Heart of the Country are Mountains, that afford 
eonfiderable Quantities of Gold. Their chief Fifh are Bo- 
netoes, Snooks, Cavalies,Bremes, Mullets, and Sea-tortoifes. 
Neither do they want Harbours, Creeks, and Rivers. The 
Climate of Mindanao is not fo exceffive hot, efpecially near 
the Sea-fide, confidering its Situation near the Line, where 
the Sea-breezes cool the Air by Day, as the Land-winds 
do at Night. The Wind blows from the Eaft from Octo- 
ber to May, when it blows Weft to October again. Thefe 
Weft Winds produce the wet Seafon, which is heavieft in 
July and Augujl , and begins to remit, by degrees, in Sep- 
tember , and ceafes in October, when the Eaft Wind brings 
fair Weather till May. Tho’ the Inhabitants of the Me of 
Mindanao are generally alike in Colour, Stature, and in their 
Religion, (being Mohamedans) yet they differ in their Lan- 
guage and Government. I will only mention fuch as are 
come to my Knowledge : The Hillanoons, Mountaineers, 
living in the Heart of the Me, are Mafters of the Gold- 
mines, and are rich alfo in Bees-wax, both which they ex- 
1 
AGES of Book I 
change With the Mindanyans for foreign Commodities. The 
Sologus, inhabiting the North-weft End of the Me, traffick 
with thofe of Manilla , and fome other adjacent Mands * 
but not with thofe of Mindanao. The Alfo ores were for- 
merly under the fame Government With the Mdndanayans 
but were Separated from them, by falling to the Share of 
younger Children of the Sultan of Mindanao, who, of late, 
has laid Claim to them again. The Mindanyans, properly 
lb called, aie of low Stature, with fmall Limbs, little 
Heads, and ftrait Bodies ; fmall Eyes, Ihort Nofes, wide 
Mouths, thin red Lips, and black Teeth, but found. Their 
Flair is black and ftrait their Complexion tawny, but 
fomething brighter than that of other Indians. They are 
ingenious and nimble, but much addidted to Idlenefs ; ’civil 
and obliging to Strangers, but withal implacable, ’when 
once difobliged. Their Cloathings are, a Turban tied once 
round the Head with Cloth, the Ends fringed or laced, 
tied in a Knot, and hanging down. They wear alfo Breeches! 
and Frocks over them ; but neither Stockings nor Shoes! 
The Women tie their black and long Hair 'together in a 
Knot, hanging down behind. They are fmaller- featured 
than the Men, and have very little Feet. Their Garments 
are only a Piece of Cloth fewed together at both Ends, and 
a Frock reaching a little below the Waift. They covet the 
Acquaintance and Converfation of white Men, and will be 
very free with them, as far as they have Liberty. One 
peculiar Cuftom they have in the City of Mindanao, that, 
as foon as any Strangers arrive, the Men of Mindanao 
come aboard, to invite them to their Houfes, where they 
are fure to inquire, whether any of them have a mind for a 
Pagally (or innocent Female Friend). The Strangers, in 
Civility, are obliged to accept the Offer made them of fuch 
a Friend, and to fhew their Gratitude by a fmall Prefent, 
as the Continuance of the fame Friendfhip muft be pur- 
chafed by fome other Trifles ; in Return for which, they 
have the Liberty to eat, drink and fleep in their Friends 
Houfes (for their Money). They have no other Enter- 
tainment there gratis, except a little Tobacco and Betel, a 
mean Way of begging, tho’ pradlifed even among the 
richeft of the Place. The Capital of this Ifle bears the 
fame Name with the Ifland, and is feated on the South Side, 
two Miles from the Sea, upon the Bank of a fmall River! 
in 7 0 20' North Latitude. Their Houfes are built upon 
Polls, from fourteen to twenty Feet high, having only one 
Floor, but many Rooms or Partitions. The Sultan’s Houfe 
refts upon 150 great Polls, and was much higher than the 
reft, with great broad Stairs leading up to it. In the Hall 
flood twenty Pieces of Iron Cannon, placed on Field Car- 
riages. The General, and other great Men, have alfo fome 
Guns in their Ploufes, the Floors whereof are generally 
well matted, they ufing no Chairs, but fitting crofs-legged. 
Their ordinary Food here is Rice, Sago, and fome fmall 
Fifh ; but the better Sort eat Buffaloes and Fowl, tho’ a 
great deal of Rice with them. They ufe no Spoons, but 
take their Victuals up in their Fingers. They fpeak, in the 
City of Mindanao, both the Mindanyan and Malayan Lan- 
guages. Their Prayers are in Arabic, and they retain alfo 
fome Lurkijh Words. Some of the old People of both Sexes 
can fpeak SpaniJJo, becaufe the Spaniards had formerly divers 
Forts in this Ifland, and would, without Queftion, have 
brought it under Subjedlion, had not the Fear they were 
in of being attacked by the Chinefe at Manilla obliged them 
to withdraw their Troops thence ; which Opportunity the 
prefent Sultan’s Father laid hold on to make himfelf Mailer 
of their Forts, and to expel them from the Me. But, at 
this time, as they are moft afraid of the Dutch, fo they 
have often invited the Englijh to make a Settlement there,, 
believing them not fo encroaching as either of the before- 
mentioned Nations. The chief Trades in this City are 
Goldfmiths, Blackfmiths, Carpenters, and Shipwrights 5 for 
they build good Ships both for Trade and W ar. Their chief 
Commodities, exported, are Gold, Bees-wax, and Tobacco. 
The two firft they purchafe from the Mountaineers ; and 
the laft grows all over the Me in vaft Plenty. Thefe they 
exchange for Calicoes, Mullins, and China Silks. The Min- 
danao Tobacco is reckoned no-way inferior to that of Ma- 
nilla yet you may buy ten or twelve Pounds of it for a Rial. 
The People of Mindanao are generally afflidled with a dry 
Scurf all over their Bodies, with violent Itehings, which, 
when 
