The Philippine Islands Part 34

1 Dungon. 8 Acle. 1 Molave. 8 Banaba.

2 Yacal. 9 Narra. 2 Camagon. 9 Yacal.

3 Ipil. 10 Tindalo. 3 Ipil. 10 Mangachapuy.

4 Mangachapuy. 11 Molave. 4 Acle. 11 Lauan.

5 Guijo. 12 Lauan. 5 Dungon. 12 Guijo.

6 Banaba. 13 Cedar. 6 Tindalo. 13 Cedar.

7 Camagon. 14 Lanete. 7 Narra. 14 Lanete.

The hardwoods of the Philippines, suitable for building and trade requirements as described above, are those in general use only. Altogether about fifty kinds exist, but whilst some are scarce, others do not yield squared logs of sufficient sizes to be of marketable value. Amongst these are the _Quercus concentrica_ (Tagalog, _Alayan_), a sort of oak; the _Gimbernatia calamansanay_ (Tagalog, _Calamansanay_); the _Cyrtocarpa quinquestyla_ (Tagalog, _Amaguis_), and others.

To carry on successfully a timber trade in this Colony, with ability to fulfil contracts, it is necessary to employ large capital. Firstly, to ensure supplies by the cutters, the trader must advance them sums amounting in the total to thousands of pesos, a large percentage of which he can only nominally recover by placing them against future profits; secondly, he must own several sailing-ships, built on a model suited to this cla.s.s of business. Several Europeans have lost the little money they had by having to freight unsuitable craft for transport to the place of delivery, and by only advancing to the native fellers just when they wanted logs brought down to the beach, instead of keeping them constantly under advance. With sufficient capital, however, a handsome profit is to be realized in this line of business, if it is not killed by too much new legislation.

So far Philippine woods have not met in London with the appreciation due to their excellent qualities, possibly because they are not sufficiently well known. In China, however, they are in great demand, in spite of the compet.i.tion from Borneo (Kudat and Sandakan) and Australian shippers. Since the American occupation, large shipments of Oregon Pine have been made to the Colony: how this wood will stand the climate is not yet ascertainable.

_Fruits_.--There are few really choice, luscious fruits in the Philippines which can compare with the finest European species. Nothing in this Colony can equal our grape, peach, cherry, or strawberry.

The _Mango_ (_Manguifera indica--Pentandrie_, Linn.) ranks first in these Islands. It is oblong--oval-shaped--flattened slightly on both sides, about five inches long, and of a yellow colour when ripe. It is very delicious, succulent, and has a large stone in the centre from which fibres run at angles. To cut it, the knife must be pressed down from the thick end, otherwise it will come in contact with the fibres. Philippine mangoes are far superior to any others grown in the East. This fruit has a slight flavour of turpentine, and, as to smell, Manuel Blanco [150] doubts whether it more resembles bugs, onions, or tar. The trees are very large and majestic--the leaves are dark green, and the whole appearance strikingly n.o.ble. Great care is needed to rear the fruit. The natives cut notches in the trunk, and from the time the tree begins to flower until the fruit is half matured, they light fires on the ground under its branches, as the smoke is said to hasten the development. The tree begins to bear fruit at ten years old.

The first mangoes of the season are forced, and even picked before they are ripe, so that they may more quickly turn yellow. They are brought to the Manila market in February, and fetch as much as 20 cents each. The natural ripening time is from the end of March. In the height of the season they can be bought for two dollars per hundred. Epicures eat as many as ten to a dozen a day, as this fruit is considered harmless to healthy persons. Mango jelly is also appreciated by Europeans as well as natives. Luzon and Cebu Islands appear to produce more mangoes than the rest of the Archipelago. From my eight mango-trees in Morong district I got annually two pickings, and one year three pickings from two trees.

There are other species of mango-tree of the genus _Terebinthaceae_, viz.:--_Manguifera anisodora, M. altissima, M. rostrata_ and _M. sinnata_.

The _Banana_ or _Plantain_ (_Musa paradisiaca_) is plentiful all over the Islands at all seasons. It grows wild, and is also largely cultivated. It is the fruit of an herbaceous endogenous plant of the natural order _Musaceae_. It is said that the specific name _paradisiaca_ is derived, either from a supposition that the plantain was the forbidden fruit of Eden [151], or from an Arabic legend that Adam and Eve made their first ap.r.o.ns of the leaves of this tree, which grow to a length of five to six feet, with a width of 12 to 14 inches. Some 10 to 12 distinct varieties of bananas are commonly to be seen, whilst it is a.s.serted that there are over 50 sorts differing slightly from each other. The Tagalog generic name for this tree and fruit is _Saguing_. The species known in Tagalog dialect as _Lacatan_ and _Bongulan_, of a golden or orange tinge when the skin is removed and possessing a slight pineapple flavour, are the choicest. The _Tondoc_ is also a very fine cla.s.s. The stem of the banana-plantain is cut down after fruiting, and the tree is propagated by suckers. [152] Renewal of the tree from the seed is only necessary every 12 to 18 years. The fruit is borne in long cl.u.s.ters on strong stalks which bend over towards the earth. As the suckers do not all rise simultaneously, the stages of growth of the young fruit-bearing trees vary, so that there is a constant supply all the year round. Moreover, it is customary to cut down, and hang up in the house, the stalk sustaining the fruit before it is ripe, so that each fruit can be eaten as it matures. The glossy leaves of the banana-plantain are exceedingly beautiful. They are used for polishing hardwood floors; they serve as a subst.i.tute for plates at the _tianguis_ and for wrapping-paper at the small native and Chinese grocers' shops. In rural places if a _carromata_ driver cannot find a leather horse-collar, he improvises one of banana-leaf.

The _Papaw_ tree (_Carica. papaya_) flourishes wild--a prolific growth--attains a height of 20 to 25 feet, and is very picturesque. The leaves emerge in a cl.u.s.ter from the top of the stem, and are about 20 to 30 inches long. They can be used as a subst.i.tute for soap for washing linen. The foliage has the peculiar property of making meat or poultry tender if hung up in the branches. The fruit is of a rich olive green, and remains so almost to maturity, when it quickly turns yellow. Both in shape and flavour it is something like a melon, and, although more insipid, it is refreshing in this climate. Containing a quant.i.ty of pepsine, it is often recommended by doctors as a dessert for persons with weak digestive organs.

Besides these fruits, there are _Pomelo_ oranges, about four times the size of the largest European orange; ordinary-sized _Oranges_ of three sorts; _Citron; Jack fruit_ (_Anona muricata,_ Linn., or more probably _Artocarpus integrifolia_) (Tagalog, _Nangca); Custard Apples (Anona squamosa,_ Linn.) (Tagalog, _Atis_); _Bread-fruit_ (_Artocarpus camansi)_ (Tagalog, _Dalangian_ or _Dalamian_); _Lomboy_ (_Calyptrantes jambolana--Icosandrie_, Linn.), which looks like a damson; _Santol_ (_Sandoric.u.m ternatum--Decandrie_, Linn.), delicious prepared in syrup; _Condol_, (_Monoecia syngenesia--Cucurbita pepo aspera_), a kind of white pumpkin for preserving; _Limes_ (Tagalog, _Limonsuangi_); small green _Limes_ (Tagalog, _Calamansi_) for preserving; another kind called _Lucban_; a diminutive _Mango_ (_Manguifera altissima_) (Tagalog, _Paho_), which is brined and then put in vinegar; _Pomegranates_ (_Punica granatum_); a very inferior species of wild _Strawberry_; _Chico_ (_Achras sapota--Hexandrie_, Linn.), the _Chico sapoti_ of Mexico, extremely sweet, the size and colour of a small potato; _Lanson_ (_Lansium domestic.u.m_), a curious kind of fruit of an agreeable sweet and acid flavour combined. The pericarp is impregnated with a white viscous fluid, which adheres very tenaciously to the fingers. When the inner membrane is removed the edible portion is exhibited in three divisions, each of which envelops a very bitter stone. It is abundant in La Laguna.

_Guavas_ (_Psidium pyriferum guyava_, Linn.) (Tagalog, _Bayabas_) of very fine quality, from which jelly is made, are found wild in great abundance. They are so plentiful on waste lands that I have never seen them cultivated. The peel is an excellent astringent. _Lemons_ [153] of two kinds are grown--sometimes as many as a dozen of the small species, about the size of a walnut, may be seen hanging at one time on a tree only 18 inches high; a well-known small species is called _Dayap_ in Tagalog. _Mangosteens_, the delicate fruit of the Straits Settlements, are found in the islands of Mindanao and Sulu. In Mindanao Island, on the neck of land forming the western extremity, the _Durien_ thrives. It is about as large as a pineapple, white inside, and when ripe it opens out in three or four places. It is very delicious eating, but has a fetid smell. The seeds, as large as beans, are good to eat when roasted. The tree bears fruit about every 20 years.

_Pineapples_ (_Bromelia ananas_, Linn.) are abundant in the Southern Islands, where they are cultivated exclusively for the sake of the leaves, the delicate fibres of which are used to manufacture the fine, costly texture known as _Pina_ (q.v.). This fruit, which is not so fine as the Singapore and Cuban species, is in little demand in the Philippines, as it is justly considered dangerous to eat much of it.

_Grape_ acclimatization has been attempted in the Philippines, but with very mediocre results. Cebu seems to be the island most suitable for vine culture, but the specimens of fruit produced can bear no comparison with the European. In Naga (Cebu Is.) I have eaten green _Figs_ grown in the orchard of a friend's house.

_Tamarinds_ (_Tamarindus indica_, Linn.) (Tagalog, _Sampaloc_) are never planted for the sake of the fruit. The tree grows wild, and the fruit resembles a bean. Picked whilst green, it is used by the natives to impart a flavour to certain fish sauces. When allowed to ripen fully, the fruit-pod takes a light-brown colour--is brittle, and cracks all over under a slight pressure of the fingers. The whole of the ripe fruit can then be drawn out by pulling the bean-stalk. The ripe tamarind appears to be little appreciated by any one, and it is extremely seldom seen, even in the form of a preserve, in a native dwelling. Containing, as it does, a large quant.i.ty of tannin, it is sometimes used by the Manila apothecaries, and I once heard that a small parcel was being collected for shipment to Italy.

The _Mabolo_ (_Diospyros discolor_) (Tagalog, _Mabolo_, also _Talang_) is a fruit of great external beauty and exquisite aroma. It is about the size of a large peach, the p.u.b.escent skin being of a fine red colour, but it is not very good eating. _Chillies_ (_Capsic.u.m minimum_, Blanco), _Ginger_ (_Zingiber officinale_, Linn.), _Capsic.u.ms_ (_Capsic.u.m tetragonum_, Mill), _Capers_ (_Capparris mariana_) and _Vanilla_ are found in a wild state. _Sago_ is produced in small quant.i.ties in Mindoro Island, where the sago-plant flourishes. The pith is cut out, washed, sun-dried, and then pounded. The demand for this nutritious article is very limited. In 1904 I found the _Ca.s.sava_ plant growing near the south coast of Mindanao Island.

There are many other kinds of orchard and wild fruits of comparatively inferior quality, chiefly used by the natives to make preserves. There is also a large variety of tuberose and other vegetable products, never eaten by Europeans, such as the favourite _Sincamas_ (_Decandria--Pachyrhizus angulatus_), resembling a small turnip. The natives have a taste for many fruits plucked half ripe.

The _Flowers_ of these Islands are too numerous for their description to come within the scope of this work. To the reader who seeks an exhaustive treatise on the Botany of the Philippines, I would recommend Manuel Blanco's "Flora de Filipinas," [154] from which I have taken the following brief notes.

_Philippine Flowers_ _According to Manuel Blanco_

Orders. Genera. Species. Varieties. Sub-varieties.

Dicotyledones 126 842 2,571 349 5 Monocotyledones 26 325 1,425 270 25 Acotyledones 3 56 483 11 --

155 1,223 4,479 630 30

Some of the most curious and beautiful botanical specimens, not already described in the preceding pages, are the following, viz.:--

_Arum (?) divaricatum_, Linn. (Tagalog, _Gabigabihan_).--A delicate bulb. Common in Pasig and Manila.

_Amaryllis atamasco_, Blanco (Tagalog, _Bacong_).--A bulb. Grows to 3 feet. Beautiful large red flower. Blooms in February.

_Agave americana_ (Tagalog, _Magui_).--It is one of a large variety of Aloes. (Mexican origin?)

_Asplendium nidus._--The beautiful Nest-fern.

_Bignonia quadripinnata_, Blanco (Tagalog, _Pinca-Pincahan_).--A curious flower.

_Clerodendron longiflorum_, D.C.--An extremely beautiful and delicate white flower.

_Cactus pitajaya_, Blanco (Tagalog, _Flor de Caliz_).--Gives a grand, showy flower.

_Caryota urens_, Linn (Tagalog, _Taquipan_).--A beautiful palm. Grows to 22 feet. The fruit, when tender, is masticated like the _Areca catechu_.

_Caryota onusta_, Blanco (Tagalog, _Cauong_).--A fine palm. Gives a sweet juice which turns into good vinegar. The trunk gives a Sago, called by the natives _Yoro_. The ripe seeds are a deadly poison. An infusion of the seeds in water is so caustic that it has been used to throw on to Moro pirates and thieves; wherever it touches the body it burns so terribly that none can suffer it or cure it. Sometimes it is thrown into the rivers to stupefy the fish, which then float and can be caught with the hand. When _unripe_ the seeds are made into a preserve. The seeds have also medicinal properties.

_Cryptogamia_.--Nine families of very luxuriant ferns.

_Cryptogamia_.--_Boletus sanguineus_ (Tagalog, _Culapo_).--A curious blood-red Fungus.

_Dillenia Reifferscheidia_ (Tagalog, _Catmon_).--A very singular, showy flower.

_Exocarpus ceramica_, D.C.--A curious Cactus.

_Euphorbia tirucalli_, Linn.--A curious Cactus.

_Erythrina carnea_, Blanco (Tagalog, _Dapdap_).--Grows to 20 feet. Gives a lovely red flower.

_Hibiscus syriacus_, Linn. (Several varieties of Hibiscus.)

_Hibiscus abelmoschus_, Linn.

_Mimosa pudica_, Linn.--_Mimosa asperata_, Blanco (Tagalog, _Mahihin_).--The "Sensitive Plant," so called because at the least contact with anything it closes up all the little petals forming the leaf. It is one of the most curious plants in the Islands. It has a small red flower. Grows only a few inches from the ground, among the gra.s.s.

_Mimosa tenuifolia_, Blanco.--The "Sensitive Tree," which has the same property of closing the leaf on contact.

_Mimosa scutifera_, Blanco.--A tree with seed-pods hanging down like curls.

_Momordica sph.o.e.roidea_, Blanco (Tagalog, _Buyoc-buyoc_).--Climbs high trees. The fruit is eaten when cooked. Soap is obtained from the roots.