s_. In all these islands are great numbers of cocoa-palms. In
some of the nuts are found stones as large as filberts, which the
natives prize, although thus far it is not known what efficacy
they have. They draw a great quantity of wine from the palm-trees;
one Indian can in one forenoon obtain two arrobas of sap from
the palm trees that he cultivates. It is sweet and good, and is
used in making great quantities of brandy, excellent vinegar, and
delicious honey. The cocoanuts furnish a nutritious food when rice is
scarce. From the nut-shells they make dishes, and [from the fibrous
husk?] match-cords for their arquebuses; and with the leaves they
make baskets. Consequently this tree is very useful.

In these islands are very many swine, and goats of excellent
quality. There are also a great many wild buffaloes, which, if caught
when young, can be easily tamed. There are ducks, and some geese which
have been brought from China. There are also a great many fowls of
excellent quality, which are similar to those of Castilla. There
are some fowls which have no tails, for which reason the natives
superstitiously refuse to eat them; but these are better than the
other sorts.

As for fruits like those in Castilla, they were formerly not to
be found in this land, because of its proximity to China, where
there are so many fruits peculiar to that country. There are here
some tolerably good fruits, such as excellent bananas [17]; nancas,
a very fragrant fruit, and larger than the largest Spanish melon;
macupas, which resemble apples; and santors, which taste like the
quince. There are also many good oranges and lemons.

In the province of Ylocos is found a large tree whose blossoms resemble
the white lily, and taste like fish. The Indians gather the blossoms in
the morning, cook them, and eat them in place of fish. And, wonderful
to relate, on the next morning the tree is again full of blossoms;
and this occurs day after day.

In the mountain region, where there is scarcity of water, are found
certain bejucos, six or eight brazas high, and larger around than the
thumb. When this stem is cut, there gushes forth a great quantity
of water, of excellent taste; and this liquid supplies the lack of
water. Each bejuco will yield two or three cuartillos of water. [18]

Chapter Eleventh

_Which treats of the rites and ceremonies observed by the Moros in
the vicinity of Manilla, and of their social conditions_

_The god Batal