On the coasts of any of these islands are found many small white snail shells, called siguei.  The natives gather them and sell them by measure to the Siamese, Cambodians, Pantanes, and other peoples of the mainland.  It serves there as money, and those nations trade with it, as they do with cacao-beans in Nueva Espana. [115]

Carabao horns are used as merchandise in trading with China; and deerskins and dye-wood with Japon.  The natives make use of everything in trading with those nations and derive much profit therefrom.

In this island of Luzon, especially in the provinces of Manila, Panpanga, Pangasinan, and Ylocos, certain earthenware jars [tibores] are found among the natives.  They are very old, of a brownish color, and not handsome.  Some are of medium size, and others are smaller, and they have certain marks and stamps.  The natives are unable to give any explanation of where or when they got them, for now they are not brought to the islands or made there.  The Japanese seek them and esteem them, for they have found that the root of a plant called cha [tea]—­which is drunk hot, as a great refreshment and medicine, among the kings and lords of Japon—­is preserved and keeps only in these tibors.  These are so highly valued throughout Japon, that they are regarded as the most precious jewels of their closets and household furniture.  A tibor is worth a great sum, and the Japanese adorn them outside with fine gold beautifully chased, and keep them in brocade cases.  Some tibors are valued and sold for two thousand taes of eleven reals to the tae, or for less, according to the quality of the tibor.  It makes no difference if they are cracked or chipped, for that does not hinder them from holding the tea.  The natives of these islands sell them to the Japanese for the best price possible, and seek them carefully for this profit.  However, few are found now, because of the assiduity with which the natives have applied themselves to that search. [116]

At times the natives have found large pieces of ambergris on the coasts.  When they discovered that the Spaniards value it, they gathered it, and have made profit from it.  The past year of six hundred and two, some natives found in the island of Sebu a good-sized piece of ambergris, and when their encomendero heard of it, he took it, and traded with them secretly for it, on the account of their tribute.  It is said that it weighed a good number of libras.  Afterward he brought it out and sold it by the ounce at a higher rate. [117]

In the province and river of Butuan—­which is pacified and assigned to Spaniards, and is located in the island of Mindanao—­the natives practice another industry, which is very useful.  As they possess many civet cats, although smaller than those of Guinea, they make use of the civet and trade it.  This they do easily, for, when the moon is in the crescent, they hunt the cats with nets, and capture many of them.  Then when they have obtained the civet, they loose the cats.  They also capture and cage some of them, which are sold in the islands at very low prices. [118]