Some writers claim that the name is a corruption of Maydila, from the Tagal words may and dila, meaning “the place that has a tongue”—­alluding to a tongue-shaped island formerly at the mouth of Pasig River.—­Rev. T. C. Middleton, O.S.A.

[44] Gold and other minerals are still obtained from the mines of Paracale (in the province of Ambos, Camarines), Luzon.

[45] Blumentritt says (Dic. mitologico de Filipinas, pp. 34, 35), of the appellation Bathala:  “This name, of Sanscrit origin, is or was given to various gods of the Malay Filipinos.  The ancient Tagalos called their principal god Badhala, or Bathala mey-kapal ["God the creator"], and gave the same name to the bird Tigmamanukin, ... and sometimes to the comets or other heavenly bodies, which, in their opinion, predicted future events.”  This is analogous to the manner in which the North American Indians apply such terms as “Manitou,” “wakan,” or “medicine,” not only to their divinities, but to any phenomenon that is mysterious or incomprehensible to them.

The term Diwata (devata, diobata), also of Sanscrit origin, is applied variously by different races in the archipelago—­sometimes to the souls of ancestors (whom they invoke); sometimes to any inferior spirits, whether good or bad (ut supra pp. 45, 46).

[46] A reference to the island of Basilan, off the southwest point of Mindanao; it was formerly called Taguima.  The route for ships here mentioned was through the strait of Basilan.

[47] Yvalon (or Ibalon) was the ancient name of Albay; it was sometimes applied to the entire island of Luzon.

[48] The Bicol river, which crosses the province of Ambos Camarines (Sur), while Paracale is in the same province (Norte); both are on the opposite coast from Albay.  Yloquio is probably Ilocos; but that province is north, not south, of Manila.

[49] This municipal organization may be thus defined:  The cabildo was the municipal official corporation—­nearly the same as the American city council; the regidores were members of it.  The alguazil was an official who executed the orders given by the cabildo, or by the alcaldes (judges).  Regarding this subject, see Historical Introduction, Vol.  I, p. 56; also Dic.-Encicl.  Hisp.-Amer, art:  Cabildo, Alcalde, etc.

[50] The peso was a money of account, commonly supposed to be worth fifteen reals vellon.  There was also a silver coin called a peso, which was valued at eight reals of silver, and weighed one onza (a trifle more than the English ounce).  The real (=34 maravedis) is equivalent to nearly five cents of United States money; it is no longer coined, but is still a unit of value throughout Spain.  The tomin for gold was equivalent to 8.883 grains (United States weight), and for silver to 9.254 grains.  From a document published in Doc. ined.  Ultramar, vol. ii, pp. 461-463, it appears that seven tomines of gold were equivalent to one peso of gold.