Page 330

An. 1686

Of the Houses, &c.

they spend abundance of Water in their Houses. This Water, with the washing of their Dishes, and what other filth they make, they pour down near their Fire-place : for their Chambers are not Boarded, but floored with split Bamboos, like Laths, so that the Water presently falls underneath their dwelling rooms, where it breeds Maggots, and makes a pro- digious stink. Besides this filthiness, the sick peo- ple ease themselves, and make water in their Cham- bers ; there being a small hole made purposely in the floor, to let it drop through. But healthy sound people commonly ease themselves, and make water in the River. For that reason you shall always see abundance of people, of both Sexes, in the River, from morning till night; some easing themselves, others washing their bodies or cloaths. If they come into the River purposely to wash their cloaths, they strip and stand naked till they have done ; then put them on, and march out again: both men and wo- men take great delight in swimming, and washing themselves, being bred to it from their Infancy. I do believe it is very wholsome to wash mornings and evenings in these hot Countries, at least 3 or 4 days in the week: for I did use my self to it when I lived afterwards at Ben-cooly, and found it very refreshing and comfortable. It is very good for those that have Fluxes^[1] to wash and stand in the Ri- ver mornings and evenings. I speak it experimen- tally; for I was brought very low with that distem- per at Achin ; but by washing constantly mornings and evenings I found great benefit, and was quickly cured by it.

In the City of Mindanao they speak two Lan- guages indifferently ; their own Mindanao Lan- guage, and the Malaya: but in other parts of the Island they speak only their proper Language, ha- ving little Commerce abroad. They have Schools, and instruct the Children to read and write, and bring