There is another wood from which is made planking for the galleys, which is called banaba. [42] It is a certain short tree, about four brazas in height.  The galleys are sheathed with it, for the ship-worm bores into it but little.  The planks are one and one-half palmos broad.  There are but few of these trees, and consequently they are used only for the above purpose.

There is another wood called maria de Monteguas, [43] which differs from the first wood of that name.  From it are made timbers [latas] for the decks of the galleys, as well as oars for the said galleys.  The latter are also made from another wood called guijo, [44] but these are much heavier than those made from the wood maria, and last a long time.

There is another wood called dongon, [45] which is very strong, and of a yellowish color.  From it are made stringer-plates, chocks of the bowsprit, coamings of the hatchways, strakes and stanchions for the decks.  If all these woods are cut at the conjunction and decrease of the moon, and seasoned, as above stated, for one year, the ship will last much longer; for if they are cut and not seasoned, one must tear up the decks every two years and put down new ones, for they are rotten.  Likewise the planks along the sides must be changed, with the exception of the futtock-timbers and top-timbers made of the wood maria; for that wood, although cut and not seasoned, never rots, because it is always durable, in one way, without rotting.

There are many other kinds of woods which are also used for the above purposes. [46]

The shipyards of the galleons built during Don Juan de Silva’s term were thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, and eighty leguas from the city of Manila, in different places:  namely, on the island of Marinduque, where the galleon “San Juan Bautista” was built, which is forty leguas from Manila; in the province of Camarines at Dalupaes were built “Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe,” and the “Angel de la Guardia” [i.e., “Guardian Angel"], fifty leguas from Manila; in the province of Ybalon at Bagatan were built “San Felipe” and “Santiago,” eighty leguas from Manila; in Mindoro was built the galleon “San Juan Bautista,” fifty leguas from Manila; in Marinduque was built the almiranta “San Marcos,” forty leguas from Manila; in Masbate was built the royal flagship “Salbador,” seventy leguas from Manila; in Cavite were built the “Espiritu Santo” and the “San Miguel,” two leguas from Manila, in the port where the fleets anchor; in the port of Cabite, six galleys; in the city of Manila, two.

Those who cut these woods and build these ships and galleys are Indian natives of the said islands.  They are carpenters, who are called cagallanes or pandais in their language.  Those Indians who are no more than woodcutters, and serve only as hewers and planers of wood, are paid each seven or eight reals a month, and are given daily rations of one-half celemin of rice.  Those of better trades than the latter generally earn ten or twelve reals a month.  Those who are masters—­the ones who lay out, prepare, round; and make the masts, yards, and topmasts are each paid three or four pesos of eight reals a month, and double rations.