this plant is _ibabao_ (the ancient name of Samar Island).

[275] "Eagle" (Latin, _aguila_) is here a corruption of the Malay
name _agila_, referring to the fragrant, resinous wood of a tree
(_Aguilaria agallocha_) used for many centuries by Asiatic peoples,
especially the Chinese, for incense; it is also called "Kalambak"
and "aloes-wood." Calambuco is another species of this genus, its
wood little fragrant, but used in cabinet work (_Century Dictionary_).

[276] True wealth and prosperity of the republic of Venice were
largely due to its preëminence in the Oriental trade, carried on by
the overland route through Asia, in caravans. By the discovery of
the Cape of Good Hope the Portuguese opened the sea-route to India,
by which the products of the East were carried to Europe more cheaply
and in greater abundance; and the decline of Venetian prestige and
wealth rapidly followed (in the sixteenth century).

[277] This probably refers to Giovanni Pietro Maffei, a noted
Jesuit scholar and writer, and the book mentioned is his _Historiarum
Indicarum Libri xvi_ (Fiorenze, 1588). Maffei was born at Bergame about
1536, according to Moreri, but in 1533 according to Sommervogel. In
1563 he accepted the chair of rhetoric at Genoa, where he also acted
as secretary of the republic of Genoa. August 26, 1565 (Sommervogel)
he entered the Jesuit novitiate. He occupied a high place in the
order until his death at Tivoli, October 20, 1603. Besides the book
mentioned above, he wrote also a life of St. Ignatius Loyola, and a
history of the pontificate of Gregory XIII, the latter of which was
never published. His temper was irascible and his personality not
very pleasing. He strove always to maintain a pure Latin style in
his Latin writings.