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. 40]

I690-I691] SAN AGUSTIN ON FILIPINOS

209

3I. They are very fond of play,154 for they believe
that it is a restful way in which to gain much, and it
is very suitable to their laziness and lack of energy.
Therefore, an Indian would rather lie stretched out
in his house than gain the greatest wage. On this
account, when he gets a peso he stays at home without working, until it is all eaten up or drunk up, for
it all amounts to the same thing. This is the reason
why they are so poor, in comparison with the Sangleys and mestizos, who live in abundance, for they
know how to seek and work.155 Egestatem operata
est manus remissa. (Proverbs x, verse 4.)
piles of 20's and left the pile of 7. We called him back to tell
him to take that money which he had left. Thereupon he took
the seven pesos, and it was necessary to call him back the third
time to tell him that all the money on the table belonged to him.
He himself had determined that the price should be 52 or 53
per quintal, and then he took what was given him. The majority
are the same. Then it is learned that a Chinese has bought for
20 the same quantity of indigo for which a Spaniard offered 25.
It is said that a Filipino would rather receive one real from a
Chinese than one peso from a Spaniard, as we have just seen
was written by Father Gaspar." (Mas, pp. 73, 74.)
154 "And tell me, your Paternity," says Delgado (p. 309),
"who is not given to this vice in this land?"-an interesting commentary on social conditions.
155 Commenting on this, Delgado (p. 309) says: "Who are the
ones who cut the timber, and build the ships, galleys, and galliots, as says Father Murillo, and work in the ships in the port?
Then they do this stretched out in their houses, as says our father
master? It is true that they are always poor, but the true cause of
that is different. Let them not admit into Manila so many
heathen Chinese, who possess in themselves all the trades and
employments, by which one may seek his livelihood. The Indians
would apply themselves to these trades, and would not lie
stretched out in their houses, for the Sangleys do not allow them
to engage in these or to seek their livelihood."
Mas says (pp. 75-77): "I have never read a single manuscript or printed book about the Filipinos that does not speak of
their laziness.
"I, accustomed to hear the term 'lazy' given to Spaniards,