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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 07 of 55 - 1588-1591 by Unknown
page 25 of 283 (08%)
fowls, swine, ducks, game-birds, wild hogs, buffaloes, fish, bread,
and other provisions, and garden-produce, and firewood; there are
also many commodities from China which are sold through the streets.

Twenty merchantmen generally sail hither each year from China, each
one carrying at least a hundred men, who trade from November until
May--in those vessels coming hither, living here, and departing
to their own country, during these seven months. They bring hither
two hundred thousand pesos' worth of merchandise, only ten thousand
pesos being in food supplies--such as flour, sugar, biscuits, butter,
oranges, walnuts, chestnuts, pineapples, figs, plums, pomegranates,
pears, and other fruits, salt pork, and hams--and in such abundance
that the city and its environs are supported thereby during the whole
year, and the fleets and trading-vessels are provisioned therefrom;
they bring also many horses and cows, with which their land is well
supplied. For two years, merchantmen have come hither laden with goods
from Japon, Macaon, Cian [Siam], and other places, in order to trade
in this city. The people of those countries are consequently becoming
desirous of our friendship and trade, and many of the inhabitants of
those nations are being converted.

They carry to their own countries, from this land, gold, wax, cotton,
dye-woods, and small shells, which latter pass for money in their
country, being used besides for many things, whereby they are held
in much esteem. They bring hither silks--figured satins, black and
colored damasks, brocades and other fabrics--which are now very
commonly seen, a great quantity of white and black cotton cloth,
and the above-mentioned articles of food.

Outside of this city and the above-mentioned villages lying within
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