The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 2]

I92

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 2

Two hundred hogsheads hooped with
hoops of iron,.... cc
Two saddles with'long stirrups, with colored velvet trimmings, and all rivets, bits,
and stirrup-irons to be gilded,.. ii
Two cavalry saddles with colored trimmings, all to be of good quality,.. ii
Six gilt swords with daggers of good quality, which are for the S. S. on the coast of
China and for those in the islands of Japan, vi
All of the aforesaid goods should be sent as soon
as possible, on the first ships that sail, for all these
things are very necessary, that we may maintain ourselves in these parts.
List of articles needed by the said fleet for the
oared vessels which are to be built here for his majesty. The list follows:
First: four hawsers, of one hundred and twenty
brazas 9 each; each five quintals, xx quintals
Two large cables, of eighty brazas each; each one
to weigh six quintals,.. xii quintals
Six hawsers, of one hundred and thirty brazas
each; each to weigh three quintals, xviii quintals
Two large cables additional, of one hundred and
twenty brazas each; each to weigh ten quintals,
xx quintals
Item common sails for rigging, thirty quintals,
xxx quintals
9~The braza was a measure of length, equivalent to 16.718
decimeters, or i.82636 yards (U. S.). The name originated (like
the French brasse) in the primitive use of the human arm as a
measure of length. The braza (square) was used in the Philippines as a measure of surface, being equivalent to 36 Spanish, or
30.-968 English, square feet.