When the Spaniards landed in the Philippines they found the inhabitants clad in silks and cotton stuffs, which were imported by Chinese ships to exchange for gold-dust, sapan wood, holothurian, edible birds' nests, and skins.

Sapan or Sibucao, Caesalpinia Sapan.

Sapan or Sibucao, Caesalpinia Sapan.

The sapan of the Philippines is richer in dye stuff than all other eastern asiatic woods, but it ranks below the Brazilian sapan.

The sapan of the Philippines is richer in dye stuff than all other eastern asiatic woods, but it ranks below the Brazilian sapan.

The reddish brown tint so frequently met with in the clothes of the poorer Chinese is produced from sapan.

CHAPTER VII A projected attack-Digging a sapAn 'ell of a nightThe attackPuncturing Prussians.