The country Ma-yi - Chao Ju-kua's pre-

Spanish description of the Philippines

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(There is no direct reference as to the time in which Chao Ju-kua lived, but his name is mentioned in the Imperial
Catalogue, whence it appears that he was probably descended from some member of the imperial family of the
Sung dynasty, whose real name was Chao.; and that he was born after the beginning of the second half of the
twelfth century. He was inspector of the salt gabel in the province of Fo-kien, and his title was probably Shih-po,
which means " Superintendent of Sea Trade." As this post existed in Fo-kien only during the years 1277- 1287, it is
probable that those dates fix the period of Chao Ju-kua. His work is called the Chu-fan-chih, and the greater part of
his notes are copies from older records. His position, however, gave him opportunity to gather information
personally from the traders who anchored at his port. At that time more foreign traders frequented Chinese ports
than either before or after, and it would be comparatively easy to gather information. The Chu-fan-chih contains
more geographical information than do the court records. See F. Hirth's China and the Roman Orient (Leipsic and
Munich; and Shanghai and Hong-kong, 1885), pp. 21-25.)

The country Ma-yi 1

The country Ma-yi is located north of Poni . About one thousand families inhabit the shores of a
2 3

river which has many windings . The natives dress in linen, wearing clothes that look like sheets;
4

or they cover their bodies with sarongs . In the thick woods are scattered copper statues of
5

Buddha, but no one can tell the origin of those statues . Pirates seldom visit those districts.
6

When [Chinese] merchantmen arrive at that port they cast anchor at a place [called] the place of
Mandarins. That place serves them as a market, or site where the products of their countries are
exchanged. When a vessel has entered into the port (its captain) offers presents consisting of
white parasols and umbrellas which serve them for daily use. The traders are obliged to observe
these civilities in order to be able to count on the favor of those gentlemen.
(Chao Ju-kua's map)

In order to trade, the savage traders are assembled , and have the goods carried in baskets,
7

and although the bearers are often unknown, none of the goods are ever lost or stolen. The
savage traders transport these goods to other islands, and thus eight or nine months pass until
they have obtained other goods of value equivalent to those that have been received [from the
Chinese]. This forces the traders of the vessel to delay their departure, and hence it happens
that the vessels that maintain trade with Ma-yi are the ones that take the longest to return to
their country.

The most noteworthy places of this country are: San-hsii; Pai-pu-yen; Pu-li-lu, which is located
near San-hsii; Li-yin-tung; Lin-hsin; and Li-han . The products of that country are yellow wax ,
8 9

cotton, pearls, shells , betel nuts, and jute [yu-ta] textiles . Foreign traders import porcelain,
10 11

commercial gold , iron vases for perfumes, leaden objects, glass, pearls of all colors , and iron
12 13

needles . 14

San-hsii, or the "Three Islands," belong to Ma-yi. Their names are Ka-may-en, Pa-lao-yu, and
Pa-chineng . Each of these islands is inhabited by its own races, who are scattered throughout
15

them. But upon the arrival of the vessels, the natives assemble in order to trade. Their general
name is San-hsii. Their customs are about the same as those observed in Ma-yi. Each
tribe consists of about one thousand families. The country has many lofty hills and rugged
16

rocks which rise up like gigantic walls. The houses of the inhabitants are built of bamboo. The
high region of the country has few springs, but the women go to the banks of the rivulets and
creeks and thence back to the mountain bearing on their heads two or three jars filled with
water, a load that does not bother them. They ascend the mountain with the same ease as if
they were on the level. The interior of the valleys is inhabited by a race called Hay-tan. They are
of short stature, have round yellow eyes, curly hair, and their teeth can be plainly seen [showing]
from between their lips . They build their nests in the forking of the branches of trees, and a
17

family, usually consisting of from three to five individuals, lives in each nest . They wander
18
through the fastnesses of the thickets and invisible to the sight, shoot their arrows at the
passers-by. On this account they are greatly feared. When the trader takes them a porcelain jar,
they bow and take it, and then uttering cries of joy, run away with it.

When foreign traders come to one of their villages , they must not touch the ground, but must
19

remain aboard their vessel, which is anchored in the middle of the current and announce their 20

presence by beat of drum. Thereupon the savage traders approach in their light craft, in which
they carry cotton , yellow wax, strange cloth , cocoanuts, onions , and fine mats, and all those
21 22 23

things they offer for sale in exchange [for the articles of the Chinese]. In case of
misunderstanding in the price of the goods, it is necessary to summon the chief of the traders of
that place, so that he may present himself in person, and arrange the tariff to the satisfaction of
all. The imported objects are silk umbrellas, porcelain, and a kind of basket woven from rattan.
Foreign traders receive twice or thrice the value of the goods sold aboard, in order to serve
them as a bond of security. Afterward the foreign traders disembark and perform their contracts
there, and then return to their vessel. The goods pledged by the natives remain only three or
four days aboard the vessel, and then after the expiration of that term they are restored [to
shore]. Then the vessel visits another village of the savages, for the coast villages of the Three
Islands do not have one common jurisdiction . The hills keep the winds from the vessels during
24

the continuance of the northeast monsoon. But when the southwest monsoon begins, the
dashing of the waves against the coast is so violent that great currents are formed that do not
allow the vessels to remain at anchor. This is the reason why those who maintain trade with the
Three Islands delay their return for four or five months. Porcelain, black damask, and other silk
fabrics, pearls of various colors, lead, fishnets, and tin are imported. Pu-li-lu is near Three
Islands. Its villages are very densely populated , but its inhabitants are very cruel and inclined to
25

piracy. The sea is full of reefs and shoals, and the beach has rocks which are indented like dry
wood, and their points are very sharp like those of swords and spears . In order that the vessels
26

may reach that country, they take a long and circuitous route, in order to avoid those shoals.
There are corals there, but it is very difficult to get them. The popular and trading customs are
the same as those which exist at Three Islands.

1
Notes from Blair and Robertson
This description is translated from a copy of the Periodico Hebdomadario Escolar (i.e., "Students' Weekly Paper") for
November 9, 1901, being no. 6 in order of issue of that paper. It was there published by Clemente J. Zulueta (now
deceased), then professor of history, and later engaged in archival researches in Spain for the Philippine branch of the
United States government, who was a man of real ability. He himself communicated the existence of this publication to
us; the copy of the paper, which is rare, was lent us by James A. LeRoy.

An editorial note at the beginning of the chapter reads as follows:

"As we consider it of some importance to the historical, or rather pre-historical, cartography of Filipinas, we transcribe the
following lines, which are a Spanish translation of chapter xl of the geography of the Chinese writer Chao Ju-kua.
Professor Blumentritt translated it from the English, and Dr. Hirth translated directly into English the MS. of Chao Ju-kua
[ca., I891] who according to Blumentritt, flourished in the thirteenth century-that is, three centuries before Magallanes's
expedition."

Our search for the translation by Dr. Hirth has been unavailing, and we are therefore compelled to retranslate
Blumentritt's translation. Concerning this translation we are furnished the following information in a letter from James A.
LeRoy, dated January 27, 1904: "Zulueta owns the original letter and the translation of this chapter as written out by
Ferdinand Blumentritt and sent to Rizal while the latter was in exile in 1894. Blumentritt made the annotations to the
chapter, as is proved by his letter. In his letter to Rizal enclosing the translation of the chapter, Blumentritt tells Rizal that
the previous year (1893) a friend of his in Madrid had published (how or where is not told) his hastily-made version of this
chapter, with hasty notes, which he had sent this friend for his own use in a study of the prehistoric Philippines, but had
no idea that it would be used independently." A Spanish version with parallel English translation appeared in Revista
historica de Filipinas (i.e., "Filipino Historical Review") for June, 1905 (vol. i, no. 2), which is signed by P. L. Stangl. His
version differs from that of Blumentritt given by Zulueta, being divided into two chapters - xl, called "Ma-yi," and xli, called
"San- Hsii." We have, however, preferred to use Zulueta's version, as we do not know whence Stangl's version has
proceeded. We subjoin Blumentritt's notes accompanying Zulueta's version, signing such notes "B."

Notes
2
"Ma-yi", the ancient name for Luzon, is derived from "Bahi " or "Bahy," former names of the lake of Bay. In other Chinese
dialects, the name is given as "Ma-yit", "Ba-hi", or "Ba-yit". As the chief Tagalogs of Bulakan at the time of the conquest
bore the title of " Gat-maytan", I infer that the name "Ma-yi" might very reasonably be derived from the ancient name of
Bulakan, for that province was always the richest district of Luzon. The whole of the Philippine archipelago was called
"Ma-yi" by the Chinese author. Dr. Hirth says also that the Chinese character " Ma-hi," may also be read "Mo-yat," "Ba-
ek," "Ma-i," "Ma-yek," etc. - B.

3
Ancient Chinese name for the island of Borneo. - B.

4
Probably the river is the Pasig, and the settlement, Manila. - B.

5
Sarong is the Malay word for skirt. - B.

This confirms the statement that the Philippine Islands were once under the influence of Buddhism, from India. - B.
6

It is far more likely that such images were traded by the Chinese to the superstitious people, and that Buddhism never
had any foothold and was never introduced in the Philippines; notwithstanding P. L. Stangl's belief that Buddhism was
introduced into the Philippines from Java.

7 The Chinese call all foreigners savages except the Japanese, Koreans, and people of Anam. - B.

8
San-hsii signifies the "Three Islands" and is attributed to the Visayan Islands. Pai-pu-yen is perhaps the Babuyanes.
Puli-lu may be Mindanao; Li-yin-tung, Lingayen; Lin-hsin sounds like Lin-hsing (called Lin-sung by Stangl), a Chinese
name corresponding to their name for modern Luzon. However, Lin-hsin appears to be the Chinese name for Calilaya
(modern Tayabas). Li-han is the primitive Chinese name for the present Malolos, whose princes bore the title of "Gat-
Salihan" or "Gat-Salian." -B.

9Stangl believes that the yellow wax is an aromatic resin resembling wax, and somewhat like but not exactly the same as
white pitch, and today sold in Mindanao under the name of yellow wax.

10 i.e., Tortoise-shell. - B.

11 Yu-ta seems to be the abaca. - B. Stangl prints "yii-ta."

12Coins of Siam and Java? For it appears that such coins circulated in the country. - B. Stangl reads the second half of
this note "But how did it come to pass current in the country?" It is probable that the commercial gold was in the form of
gold dust or ornaments of gold. If there were any Javanese or Siamese gold coins in the country (and it is highly
improbable), they must have been taken there by the Chinese, who were keen traders who early penetrated to all parts of
the eastern archipelagoes.

13 Stangl inserts here " iron fixtures " [enseres de hierro].

14
The following paragraph begins chapter xli in Stangl.

Ka-may-en is Mait or the modern Mindoro; and ← Pa-lao-yu, Paragua. " Pa-chi-neng " may also be read "Pa-kat-lung"
15

and "Ba-ki-lung." It seems to be the term for the true Visayans, while under the name San-hsii are understood the
Visayans proper, together with the islands of Mindoro and Palawan. - B.

I believe that the word " tribe " means here village or settlement; for I think that the author meant to say that the villages
16

usually had one thousand families. - B.

This phrase needs explanation. The Indians were accustomed to stain the teeth black, a custom quite general among
17

many Malay nations. The Negritos, on the contrary, did not stain them. - B.

In Chao Ju-kua's description, Stangl translates "round eyes of a shining appearance," instead of "round yellow eyes."

18These " Hay-tan " are the Aetas, Itas, or Negritos of modern authors. The antiquity of this ethnographical name
surprises us. The description of the Negritos seems to have been written yesterday. The Chinese author, in speaking of
the nests of the Negritos, seems to have confused them with the houses that are built today in the forking of the branches
of trees by some heathen tribes of Mindanao. - B.

Mr. James A. LeRoy, in a letter dated March 14, I905, says that it is at least doubtful that the Negritos were ever tree-
dwellers in the true sense of the word, i.e., building solid, defensible structures like those of the typical tree-dwellers. The
Negritos do indeed spend a portion of their time in the treetops and often hunt their game in that way. It is probable that
the tree-dwellers of the Philippines are Malays, although some of them may have a strain of Negrito blood.

19 This refers to the Indians and not the Negritos. - B.

20 Of the mouth of the rivers? - B.

21
By cotton, the author evidently means cotton textiles. - B.

This is not necessarily so. Stangl remarks that the author's meaning must be the tree cotton, which is called kapok,
basing his assertion upon the word that is used, presumably in the Chinese. The cotton plant is called kapas in Java.
Apropos of tree cotton, Census of the Philippines, iv, p. 120, says: " A species of tree cotton (Ceiba pentandra) is found
growing in a wild state in many of the islands; the cotton is useless for spinning purposes, the staple being very short, but
it is used for making cushions and other articles."

22
Foreign cloth: sinamay [a light fabric made from abaca] and other textiles of the country? - B.

23
Camotes? - B.

The author accentuates the fact that the Visayan villages had no common jurisdiction. This appears to imply that
24

several villages in Luzon were under the jurisdiction of one king or prince. - B. This does not necessarily follow.

25The island of Mindanao was also more populous during the period of the Spanish conquest than now. The islands of
Sarangani which have now 1,500 Bilanes and Ioo Moros, were very thickly populated by the latter in 1548, and they had
a large fort on a hill there. - B. But see VOL. IX, p. 290, where it appears that the early reports of the population of
Mindanao were greatly overstated.

26According to the letters from the Jesuit fathers of Filipinas, there are yet similar coasts near Zamboanga, and such as
are described by the Chinese author. - B.

Reference:
The Philippine Islands, [Vol. 1, no. 34]
Blair, Emma Helen, ed. d.1911., Robertson, James Alexander, joint ed. 1873-1939., Bourne, Edward Gaylord,