live upon the ground, because it would play havoc with one.  For this mother nature provided these Indians with certain woods, so large and hard that, after planting them in the earth, the Indians build their houses upon them, at a height of one and one-half, two, or three brazas.  These timbers or columns are called harigues, and the wood is that called tugas. [91] These timbers having been placed, as I say, upright in the earth, and having the space of more than a braza beneath them, form the columns of the edifice, and upon them the natives build.  We have all made use of this method of building in these islands.  We have built fine houses and churches from these woods—­for which, inasmuch as many villages assist in the building, the largest columns and those of known goodness are sought, which last many years.  In conformity with this, while I was building a house in the town of Dumangas, on the Alaguer River, a very large house was there, belonging to an encomendero living there, one Ruy Lopez de Arellano, a native of Constantina.  This man died, and the house being already half fallen, I was having it taken down, in order to make some use of it, before time should finish its destruction, and the river bear it away, which was very rapidly being done.  I took down from it one column, in particular, which the Indians assured me had been brought there more than thirty years before by the Indians up the river.  I affirm that at the ground line it was eaten in about a finger’s length around.  All the rest was in perfect condition.  And I observed that the part that had been under ground was in much better condition.  There are other columns left as inheritances from father to children, and to grandchildren, upon which many houses have been built.  The walls, which are called dingding, are made of excellent timber.  The walls of the Indians’ houses are made of bamboo, inasmuch as they are poorer.  The roof is made of palm-leaf, called nipa.  Instead of nails, the natives use certain strong ligaments, made from flexible roots, called bejuco [i.e., rattan], where we use nails.  These houses, then, are considered more healthy; for as it is usually very hot in the islands, these houses are much more cool, and the winds blow through them with greater ease.  When Manila had wooden houses, it was more healthy.  But now they have taken to making stone edifices, and those not of stone are rare.  Stone is also being used to build outside of Manila, and already there are many houses and churches of that material.  If one considers this closely, even though economy be not considered, necessity was bound to impose this.  For there could be no woods to furnish so many columns, and the dragging of them thither would be very costly.  Hence, by collecting money, which is easier for the natives, they summon Chinese, who do what work is desired; and, if it is wished, they paint the building.  Therefore, because of the aforesaid reasons, our convent at Manila was begun in stone.  It is now, as I have remarked, the best in the islands; and daily it is being made more notable by further work.