Sire:
Fernando de los Rios Coronel, procurator-general of the Filipinas
Islands and of all their estates, declares that, inasmuch as all
that community insisted that he come to inform your Majesty of the
distressed condition which it has reached, and of what was advisable
both for the service of your Majesty and that community's conservation
and advancement, he has come, for that reason, at the risk of his life,
after suffering so great hardships, to serve your Majesty and those
islands, for both of which services he has made this memorial of the
most necessary matters that demand reform. Although he thinks that
your governor, Don Alonso Fajardo, will remedy many of these things
(inasmuch as that whole community writes that he is proceeding as its
father), yet, since men are so liable to the possibility of death that
most often the good lasts but a short time, and (as we all know by
experience, for our sins), another may succeed who will inflict many
injuries; and since before the complaints could reach your Majesty
through so long a distance and the relief be sent, the men concerned
might be dead: it is necessary to prevent the wrongs ere they come to
be irremediable, as have been all those that have placed that country
in so wretched a condition. He petitions your Majesty to examine
this memorial with great consideration, for in [heeding] it consists
the welfare and conservation of all the kingdom; for that country,
being so far away, has no other remedy for its protection except your
royal decrees. The first ten articles of the memorial were approved
by your royal Audiencia, so that you may have no doubt of them. He
did not inform the Audiencia of the others for just considerations,
as was advisable--the city having given him instructions for most of
them, which are those that he presents. In the authority that he has
presented to your royal Council, the great trust reposed in his person
has been evident; for he has served your Majesty and that community
for more than thirty years, with so great a desire of acting rightly
as is well known, and has never tried to further his own interests,
as all [are wont to] do.
1. He declares that having obtained two decrees from your Majesty
some years ago (while acting in this capital as procurator-general
of the kingdom), with regard to the trading-ships, ordering that your
governor and captain-general despatch them some time in the month of
June, as the greater part of their success in the voyage consists in
that, and as that country has no other fruits and harvests except that
commerce, for its conservation and increase, and also for the increase
of your royal treasury: not only have they not kept the said decrees
but have even done the very opposite. Thence have followed very many
great wrongs and annoyances; and that community is greatly exhausted
for that reason, and your royal treasury deeply in debt. [This affects
the community] not only in material possessions, but also in the loss
of your vassals, many citizens and sailors having perished for that
reason. Although it is believed that your governor and captain-general,
Don Alonso Faxardo, will (as is judged by his method of proceeding),
correct this matter, because he has entered upon his office with so
good beginnings, still, as he is mortal, and as a person may succeed
him who may not attend to this--as others of his predecessors have
failed to do, as has been seen hitherto:
He petitions your Majesty to order that this command be observed
inviolate. The most efficacious expedient would appear to be to place
the governors under a heavy penalty, which they would incur whenever
they did not observe it, and that it be made an important clause in
their residencias.
2. _Item_: That your Majesty issued a decree in the year 605, granting
favor to the citizens of that community, and ordering your governors
that the posts in the trading-ships be given to the deserving citizens
for their profit, and that many be rewarded with this. Inasmuch as
this is very advantageous to your Majesty's service and to the profit
of trade, and inasmuch as the ex-governor always gave them to his
relatives, and thus enriched them greatly, and the latter became
very arrogant; and since, as this was the affair of the governor,
no one dared to bring suit against them; and since this is greatly
to the harm of the royal treasury, because they lade quantities of
merchandise without registering it, and commit many illegal acts, and
will continue always to commit them, for no one dares to speak plainly:
He petitions your Majesty to order the observance of the said decree
by ordering the officials of your royal treasury, that should the
governor appoint to such offices other persons than those whom your
Majesty has ordered, no account be made of it in the royal books, that
no salary be granted them, and that those appointed to these offices
have their residencias taken at the end of the voyage; and that,
until these shall be taken, they cannot be appointed to other posts.
3. _Item_: That your Majesty has granted to the citizens the toneladas
of the said trading-ships, and that your governors allot these,
to each one according to his rank and wealth. The citizens have
been greatly injured in this, as happened in the year 613, when the
governor despatched two small ships, and did not give the citizens one
single tonelada; and under pretext of granting gratuities to retired
officers, the citizens were obliged to buy space for their freight
from those officers, at exorbitant prices. Further, he apportions
a considerable number of toneladas to charitable institutions, so
that they may sell the space and use, and the price obtained for
it; and thus these toneladas are given to the great injury of the
common welfare. The further disadvantage follows from this (besides
defrauding the citizens of the reward given them by your Majesty)
that the toneladas are sold to whomever will pay most for them, and
they are bought for this reason by merchants who have companies in
Mexico. Consequently, it is quite common for such men to own a great
part of the said merchandise of the ships, and thus the citizens are
deprived of the profits with which your Majesty has rewarded them.
He petitions your Majesty to order that these be not distributed at
will, but that the orders given in this regard by your royal decrees
be obeyed, and that the violation of your royal will in this be made a
clause of the residencia, with the penalty that may be assigned to it.
4. _Item_: That your Majesty has ordered that four vessels be built
for the trade, of 200 toneladas' burden; and that two of them make
voyages each year, while the other two remain in port getting ready
for the next year.
He petitions your Majesty that they be not employed in other matters
by your governors, unless it be an urgent necessity, as happened last
year, when they went out to drive off the Dutch enemy who had besieged
us. In such case the citizens themselves shall go out in them to defend
the city, since the profit of the citizens is so necessary in order
that that community may be settled, and have the sinews with which
to defend and preserve itself. They shall not be sent to Maluco or
any other district, since thus your Majesty is no less defrauded of
your royal duties.
6. _Item_: It happens that your governor and captain-general has to
send to Great China for ammunition and other articles very necessary
for your royal service. In order not to anger the Portuguese of the
city of Macan, the ships go to its port, although they could go to
another. There they are compelled to buy through the Portuguese,
and are not allowed to buy from the Chinese in the city of Canton,
the Portuguese alleging that the Chinese would charge them excessive
rates. But they, as we have experienced, buy the articles needed,
and afterward oblige our agents to take them at excessive rates,
reselling them to your Majesty to the great prejudice of your royal
treasury. That happened in my presence when Don Juan de Silva sent
Captain Francisco Lopez de Toledo for that purpose. He brought
back the supplies at prices more than thrice their value. While I
was acting as the said procurator in China, I bought nails for less
than sixteen reals per pico, or five arrobas, and Toledo brought them
hither at fifty-six; and other things after this manner, because the
Portuguese compelled him to buy through them.
He petitions your Majesty to issue a royal decree, so that the persons
sent on a similar commission by your governor may buy freely; and,
where they cannot buy freely, they may make another port, where they
can trade with the Chinese; and that the governor send an experienced
and practiced person on this errand.
7. _Item_: Inasmuch as the ships built in the Filipinas cause your
Majesty great expense, and have ruined and exhausted the natives;
and inasmuch as your Majesty owes them a great sum of money from the
time of Don Juan de Silva, for their personal services and things
that he took by force from them: it is very advisable, not only for
your royal service, but also for your royal conscience, to relieve
them from so great oppression.
He petitions your Majesty to order your governors that they be
prohibited from doing this, and that they send to Yndia to have the
said ships built; for besides their incomparably greater cheapness
there, one built there lasts as long as ten built in Filipinas, because
the woods in Yndia are incorruptible. In this your Majesty will save
a great sum of ducados, and the natives will be relieved of so much
hardship. For that a decree from your royal Council of Portugal is
needed, and it should be charged upon the governor of Filipinas to do
this with the mildness and prudence advisable. If it is desired it can
be easily effected, and it is of great importance. Of all this he has
more minutely treated in clause 7 (which corresponds to this clause)
in the memorial which he brings approved from Filipinas.
8. _Item_: He petitions your Majesty to do him the favor to order the
viceroy of Nueva España [91] not to allow a vessel to go thither from
Japon (which is a most serious evil), and to order that gate to be
closed; and, inasmuch as the Japanese do not know how to navigate
without a Spanish pilot and sailors, to have an edict published
forbidding such persons under severe penalties (which he [_i.e._,
Coronel] does not declare, because he is a priest) from sailing in
such ships to Nueva España. For that, in another guise, means to teach
a barbarous nation how to navigate, and is rash, and opens the gate
to many evils, for which afterward there will be no remedy. It will
even be advisable to order father Fray Luis Sotelo not to go to Japon,
for he was the one who began this, and it may be feared that he will
further it.
9. _Item_: There is no entrance to the city of Manila except by the
mouth of the bay, and the Dutch enemy is wont to seize that mouth,
and not allow any ship to enter or leave--as has happened thrice,
namely, the years of 10, 15, and 17--thereby placing the city in
great straits. But it may be presumed that this can be remedied by
opening up two rivers--one in Zambales, called the river of Tarla;
and the other in Laguna de Bombon, where it was resolved in the former
year of 17 that some one should go to examine it, because of their
great need--although this was not effected on account of the success
obtained in driving away the enemy.
He petitions your Majesty, for the reasons here stated, to order the
governors to consider that matter and examine this matter, and to
charge themselves with it, as it is a thing of so great importance;
and, if it be feasible, to put it into execution with the mildness and
skill that is advisable, without injuries to, or extortions on, the
natives; and that they send for that purpose a prudent and competent
person. For, if the Spaniards possess these routes, the enemy can
do no harm to the city, nor prevent it from being supplied with all
necessaries. Besides, this is of the highest importance for the service
and accommodation of the mines that have been ordered to be opened;
and it will avoid the loss of many Spanish and native vessels that
are continually being lost. [92]
15. _Item_: Inasmuch as the Indians of the islands of Mindanao and
others near by are declared enemies and are in insurrection, and
have embraced the religion of Mahomet; and inasmuch as they have
confederated with the Dutch, and committed incredible depredations
on the vassals of your Majesty, both Spaniards and natives, and there
is no security there:
He petitions your Majesty to charge your governor straitly to try to
punish them, and to attend to that carefully, since it is of so great
importance; and inasmuch as it will be of great help in facilitating
this, to declare those people to be the slaves of whomever captures
them in war, since through the greed of gain the natives will help
willingly, and the soldiers will go much more eagerly. He petitions
that you have your governor proclaim them as such, establishing the
above facts with sufficient investigation, and justice on the part
of your Majesty to order it; and that this be done quickly, since it
is so advisable to your royal service and the security of your vassals.
16. _item_: That whenever any cause that concerns the governor or
any of your auditors or the fiscal is to be voted on in the sessions
of your royal Audiencia, he petitions your Majesty to order that such
persons shall not be present at the meeting; for their presence is very
undesirable, and the execution of your royal justice is obstructed. In
regard to this, many disorderly acts have followed, as has happened
when opponents have left the session, and even offensive words have
been bandied.
17. _Item_: That your Majesty order that neither governors nor
auditors send people thence to this court. That is very annoying,
as has been seen in the one sent by Don Juan de Silva.
18. _Item_: Your Majesty is served by the Indian natives as soldiers
in Maluco and other regions--who, as we know by experience, serve very
faithfully; and so long as they are at the war, they cannot attend to
their fields and sustain their households. And in the repartimientos
which are generally made by the governors, both in personal services
and in food, the chiefs and cabezas [de barangay], through whom the
apportionment is made, practice great cruelty on the wives of those
soldiers upon whom they make the said repartimientos, thus giving
occasion for the women to sell their children, or to take to evil ways.
He therefore petitions your Majesty that such repartimientos be not
made on women whose husbands are thus engaged in the war in your
Majesty's service, and that they pay no tribute until their husbands
return--also making this concession to those whose husbands shall
have died in the war; for not only will this be a service to your
Majesty and to our Lord, but the natives will thus be encouraged to
go to service willingly, and many wrongs will be avoided.
19. _Item_: That the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical affairs in the
islands of Maluco is subject to Eastern India. Innumerable troubles
result from the archbishop of Goa having to place ministers there,
who, being of another nation and under another prelate, act very badly.
He petitions your Majesty to grant him the favor to decide that this
jurisdiction be subject to the bishop of Cibu, who is the nearest
one, and that ministers be provided thence--which can be done easily,
as it is so near, while it is done very inadequately from India.
20. _Item_: In regard to the trading-ships between Filipinas and Nueva
España and the numerous things worthy of reform (which is advisable
both for the royal treasury of your Majesty and for the community,
and for the avoidance of many death of the seamen), that which it is
advisable straitly to charge and order your governor is the following:
That the accommodations given the commander be moderated, conforming
to the capacity of the ships. We have seen them during those years
laden by the commanders with a third of the cargo, because they are
relatives of the governor, under pretext of having a dispensation of
taking the space of fifty toneladas.
20 [_sic_]. _Item_: That the said commanders, admirals, and masters,
give the residencia for their posts before being appointed to others,
which your Majesty has ordered by a decree of the year 604.
_Item_: That the masters in the port of Capulco [_i.e._, Acapulco],
in addition to the duties that are paid to your Majesty, charge
excessive prices for the guards of the boxes, barrels, and other
articles of merchandise, without anything being due them; and these
fees were not formerly charged, because their office is given to them
for that purpose, and that duty [of guarding freight] is annexed to
it. He petitions your Majesty to order the royal Audiencia of Manila,
or the governor, to set the price that they can charge; and, if they
exceed that price, those aggrieved can make claim in the residencia.
21. _Item_: That your Majesty be pleased to order your governor to
be careful, in the muster-roll of sailors and common seamen made out
by the royal officials, that all such be efficient; for it happens
that a ship may take sixty sailors, thirty of whom are men who
have been named as sailors without any knowledge of their duties,
but only by favor. Then in times of need there are not any to work,
and the few who do understand it cannot attend to the work, which
should be divided among so many. Consequently there is signal danger,
because the voyage is so long and difficult.
22. _Item_: That it be ordered that the common seamen who serve in
the said ships, who are always Indian natives, be all men of that
coast, who are instructed how to navigate; and that they be made to
wear clothes, with which to shelter themselves from the cold; for,
because they do not, most of them die in high latitudes, of which he
[the writer] is a witness. Inasmuch as the factor enrolls other Indians
who live in the interior, and who do not know the art of sailing,
and as they are a wretched people, they are embarked without clothes
to protect them against the cold, so that when each new dawn comes
there are three or four dead men (a matter that is breaking his heart);
besides, they are treated inhumanly and are not given the necessaries
of life, but are killed with hunger and thirst. If he were to tell
in detail the evil that is done to them, it would fill many pages. He
petitions your Majesty to charge your governor straitly to remedy this.
_Item_: That inasmuch as the kitchens where the food is cooked are
not located in the first part of the forecastle, as is seen in [ships
on] these seas, but in the waist; and inasmuch as at the first storm
the sea carries them away, after which each one cooks his food in
his messroom where he can make a fire (and it is a miracle from God
that the ships are not burned)--he petitions your Majesty to order
your governor to remedy that, since he is so excellent a sailor. The
reason for that abuse is that the officials appropriate the largest
storerooms of the ships.
23. _Item_: That slave women be not conveyed in the ships, by which
many acts offensive to God will be avoided. Although that is prohibited
by your royal decree, and it is also entrusted to the archbishop to
place upon them the penalty of excommunication and to punish them,
this evil has not been checked; and many sailors--and even others,
who should furnish a good example--take slave women and keep them as
concubines. He knew a certain prominent official who carried with him
fifteen of these women; and some were delivered of children by him,
while others were pregnant, which made a great scandal.
24. _Item_: That no sailor, and no passenger unless he be a person of
rank, be allowed to take more than one male slave; for they load the
ships with slaves who eat the provisions, and steal whatever they lay
hands on, besides the risk that is run of a plague being started by
them. He also petitions your Majesty that the fifty pesos paid as duty
on each slave be moderated, and that these imposts be paid according
to the tariff in España; and that these duties be paid in the port
of Capulco--where by selling the slaves, their owners may have the
wherewithal to pay the imposts; for it is a great inconvenience to
pay them in Manila. For that reason, great deceits are practiced
on the royal treasury now; for they take the slaves without being
registered, because of the high amount of the duties, and are allowed
to take them off at the port [of Acapulco] for twenty pesos. If the
said duties were moderated, and paid in the port, no one would take
them without registering them, especially since the said slaves serve
and aid the sailors in their necessities, and your Majesty gives them
no allowance of either food or water. Consequently in no part of the
Indias is so large a duty paid.
25. _Item_: Inasmuch as the good treatment of the sailors is so
important, in order that they may be inclined to go there, since
there is so great need of them, he petitions your Majesty to order
that good treatment be shown them, and they be given leave to take
away their boxes in which they carry their clothing and certain small
wares freely, without having to open them. For in this matter the
guards practice many extortions on them, and take away their little
possessions, and harass them so that many refuse to return, and many
acts of oppression are practiced.
26. _Item_: Inasmuch as the officials of the vessels, such as
commander, master, boatswain, etc., lade a quantity of merchandise
beyond the share given them, and overload the ships by occupying
the place of the ship's stores in the storerooms and magazines; and
inasmuch as this cannot be checked, as has been seen: there is no
other remedy unless your Majesty order the clerk of the register not
to receive on the register more than only the allotment of shares
that your governor makes; for he proportions the cargo which the
vessel can carry, in accordance with its need, and anything more only
overloads the ship. But if these goods were not admitted to register,
the officials would not dare to lade them, because of the great risk
of their being seized as smuggled goods. Consequently great losses
would be avoided by proceeding in the above manner.
_Item_: That neither your governor nor auditors and fiscal be allowed
to act as godfathers to the citizens; for that involves very great
annoyances, as that kingdom is so new, and as all make claims.
27. _Item_: That it is the practice or abuse that fowls are given to
your governor, auditors, and other officials of the royal Audiencia at
lower prices than are current; and that the governor of the Chinese
is ordered for that purpose to allot the share of all [the Chinese],
and each one is obliged to give weekly so many fowls at a certain
low price, and he who does not give them is punished and fined. The
worst thing is that on this occasion the governor of the Chinese
steals as many more, at the same price. That amounts to a vast sum;
for, since there is no other flesh eaten except beef and pork, these
fowls amount by the end of the year to more than twenty thousand. In
this way signal injury is done to the Chinese.
They also provide their houses with rice, which is the usual bread;
and they take it as well as other things from your royal storehouses,
at the prices for which they are given to your Majesty as tributes. It
results that your Majesty's treasury, in the course of the year,
encounters a deficiency of supplies, on account of the great expense,
and these must be bought afterward at very high rates. He mentioned
this so that your Majesty should provide what may be deemed advisable;
for it is a pity to see your Majesty's treasury poorly administered,
since it is so necessary there. [93]
28. _Item_: Inasmuch as certain regidors of the city have their
encomiendas in the Pintados Islands and other districts, and as the
governors, in order to annoy them, command them to go to live on the
encomiendas, thus obliging them to leave their offices, to their own
great loss and inconvenience; and as that is even the cause of their
being unable to exercise their offices with freedom, in order not to
anger the governor: he petitions your Majesty that, if your governor
thus urge a regidor to go to live [there] in person, he may maintain in
the said encomienda a soldier in his stead, since it is the same thing;
and it shall be understood that he is under no further obligation. The
same also is to be understood with the leading citizens of Manila.
29. _Item_: That your governor of Filipinas, in recent years,
requested from your viceroy of Nueva España many kinds of supplies,
such as rigging. One year they carried him fifty thousand pesos'
worth of it; but the freight charged for carrying it from one sea
to the other alone amounted to a vast sum of money, and the rigging
arrived at the islands rotten and useless. For ten thousand pesos, the
Indians would make twice as much as what cost fifty thousand pesos. He
sent for damask for the flag to the sea of Damascus; and six varas of
it cost less than one in Nueva España. He sends for garbanzos, habas,
biscuit, soap, and many other things, which cost their weight in money;
and when they reach the islands, they are rotten and useless. Those
things can be provided in the Filipinas with great advantages; and
where your Majesty spends one thousand, they can be bought there
for one hundred. And, as above stated, there are many other articles
besides those I have mentioned--such as flour for the hosts, which
in the islands costs less per quintal than does the freight alone for
carrying it from the port of Capulco. He sends for preserves for the
sick, who never taste them. All the above can be very well avoided,
and it is enough to send money, and to order that these articles be
provided there. Your Majesty would have saved in these last eight
years more than five hundred thousand ducados; for those who have
the handling of most of those things profit greatly from them.
29 [_sic_]. _Item_: Inasmuch as some religious commit great excesses in
making repartimientos among the Indians for works that they invent for
the natives; and also take from them their fowls, swine, and other
food at a less price and inflict on the Indians great injuries and
vexations, not only in regard to food, but also to increase their
own profits:
He petitions your Majesty to order your governor, as protector [of
the Indians], to check those excesses--and the archbishop as well,
since he may have in this respect a better opportunity to check them;
for some of the religious cause more injury to the natives than could
be told here. It is extremely important that this evil be stopped,
and that the religious be not served by the Indians, unless they pay
the latter their just wage; and that, unless they have permission
from your governor, they shall not make repartimientos on the Indians,
nor make them serve on their works. [94]
30. _Item_: That there are four orders of religious in those
islands--those of St. Dominic, St Francis, and St. Augustine, and
the Society of Jesus--and they are well known there. On account of
the trouble caused by other orders going there, and the necessity of
having to make new allotments for mission work, he petitions your
Majesty that no other orders may go there--even though they be the
same orders in name, under pretext that they are of another mode
of living; for Fray Luis Sotelo endeavored to introduce there the
calced friars in the Order of St. Francis, while the people are well
contented with the discalced friars. And the other orders should be
made to understand that the land is very new, and does not need so
many different kinds of religious. [95]
31. _Item_: Many Chinese marry native Indian women, and become
Christians and live near the city of Manila. Their only occupation is
as retailers of goods. If they were to be gathered into one place, in
a location that should be given them where they could build a town,
in order to cultivate the land and sow it (for they are excellent
farmers, and there is so much fallow land that might be given them),
not only would they be very useful to the community, but numerous
troubles that follow, because they are hucksters and retail the food,
would be avoided. This is especially desirable because in this manner
they will become more domestic and peaceable; and, since the number
of those born is thus increasing, the city will not have so much
security as if they were collected together, nor can this be done
hereafter so easily as now. He petitions your Majesty to charge your
governor to do this, by the best plan that offers.
32. Great difficulty arises from the governors placing in the city
magistracy relatives or dependents of his household, or those of
the auditors. Because a certain ex-governor did that, nothing was
enacted in the cabildo that he did not know, and of which he was not
informed. Consequently the cabildo does not proceed with any liberty,
nor does any one dare talk with Christian freedom, or defend the
community in grave cases. He petitions your Majesty to order that
such persons be disqualified to act as regidors, or as alcaldes or
scriveners of cabildo (which has resulted in the same difficulty).
_Item_: Your Majesty granted favor to those islands and their
inhabitants, so that they might be encouraged to work gold mines of
which only the tenth part of the product should be paid for twenty
years, which time is about at an end. He petitions your Majesty
to grant that country favor for another twenty years, so that the
operation of the mines may be better established.
33. In regard to the inspection of the Chinese vessels, when they come
with their merchandise, your governor appoints an inspector. The
ex-governor was wont to appoint a member of his household. On
that account notable wrongs have been committed; but no one has
dared to demand justice against the inspectors, because they are
such persons. He petitions your Majesty to order that this post be
filled by one of the alcaldis-in-ordinary--who, inasmuch as they
understand the great importance of conserving that trade, and as it
is a matter that grieves them, will show the Chinese good treatment,
since it is incumbent upon those officials to consider the interests
of their community.
34. _Item_: That the trading-ships that navigate to Nueva España have
sometimes not been despatched, for personal purposes of the former
governors, which is to the great injury of your royal treasury and of
the citizens, since those ships are the sinews of that community. He
petitions your Majesty to order your governor to prevent such a thing,
so that, unless compelled by a very great necessity, the annual
despatch be not neglected.
35. _Item_: He petitions your Majesty to order your governor not to
exclude the regidors of the city from appointments in accordance with
their merits, since they derive no profit from the city magistracy,
and are serving the community.
36. _Item_: He petitions that your Majesty be pleased to order that
religious be provided, belonging to the orders there, for there is
great need of them
37. _Item_: The maintenance of commerce with the Chinese, and the good
treatment of those from that nation who dwell in those islands, are of
so great importance that that community cannot be maintained without
them (as they practice all the trades needed by a city), and it is
advisable to treat them well. But your governor, Don Juan de Silva,
after having levied upon them so great a tax as the annual payment
of nine reals of eight for permission to remain in the country (which
meant, however, to impose this tax on the citizens, since because of
it all prices were raised), besides this made them render personal
services, by which they were sorely vexed. He therefore petitions
your Majesty to order your governor to treat the Chinese as well as
possible, and to exempt them from those personal services, which are
a greater burden on them than are the licenses. This should be done,
also, since they are foreigners, and remain voluntarily; and, moreover,
since there is so great need of the kind and just treatment and equity
which should be extended toward foreigners for their conversion,
inasmuch as the miracles which in those regions secure conversion
are good examples.
38. _Item_: That about two thousand Japanese generally reside in
that city; and that, as trading ships come annually, many Japanese
remain there. But they are not only of no use to the community, but
a signal danger, since they have three or four times placed the city
in danger of being ruined. In this last encounter with the Dutch,
Japanese went to them who gave them information; and on the day of
the battle a company of them who fled from Manila went to help the
enemy. He petitions your Majesty to show that kingdom the favor to
order straitly that no Japanese remain there; but that those who go
there every year must return to their own country.
39. _Item_: Inasmuch as the Indian natives have been so ruined by
the past shipbuilding, and your Majesty is indebted to them, for
personal services and things taken from them by Don Juan de Silva for
your royal service, more than one million [pesos]: he petitions your
Majesty to order your governors that now and henceforth they shall
endeavor most carefully to avoid, as far as possible, harassing the
Indians; and that they shall also avoid the building of galleons,
since, as stated in another memorial, these can be brought from India
at a much less cost to your Majesty; and that an effort be made to
remunerate the natives for a part of the debt due them.
40. _Item_: He petitions your Majesty to command that a copy of the
commercial decrees be given him, that he obtained formerly when he
was in this court in this same office; for the last governor took
possession of the decrees when the packet in which they were sent
to the city fell into his hands, and refused to give them up, but
kept them.
Most potent sire:
The procurator of the Filipinas declares that, having to descant upon
the matters of that kingdom that need remedy and reform, both for
the service of your Highness and for the welfare of that kingdom; and
as he had considered and discussed them before leaving that kingdom;
and considering his many years of experience, which best demonstrates
what is needful for that kingdom's prosperity: the first thing that
occurs to him is the following.
First: That the cabildo of the city of Manila, inasmuch as certain of
the regidors are appointed by the governor and at times from his own
household, suffers very great troubles because they are unable, when
discussing the common welfare in the said cabildo, to do it freely,
or to advise your Highness of what is expedient, because those persons
tell it to your governor. And, as is often necessary, if they have to
write the truth of what is occurring, if it is against the governor,
they know that he will hear of it, and will be angry at them, as has
sometimes occurred; and he has even arrested them, and has spoken
to them roughly and harshly. Inasmuch as the said governor is the
soul of that community, and the one who must reward their services,
and is even the cause that nothing but what he wishes is done and
written; and inasmuch as many times certain prominent persons and
leading men refuse to act as regidors, and those persons who would
be very desirable to retain therein have left the cabildo:
I petition and supplicate your Highness that those who enter the
said cabildo because of the absence or death of those who are now
members be appointed by the entire royal Audiencia. Those appointed
shall be nominated by the said cabildo and the said royal Audiencia
shall select one of the two who shall be nominated; and your governor
shall be unable to remove him, just as if he were appointed by your
Highness. By this method this trouble will end, and a confirmation
of this request should be sent.
_Item_: Inasmuch as the said regidors do not have any profits, and
as, on that account, those who it is important should be regidors
refuse to act: if they were assigned some just reward they would be
eager to defend their community. This reward could take the shape of
one-half tonelada for each regidor, in addition to his allotment in
each ship. Consequently, they would be encouraged to work and would
oppose the difficulties that arise.
_Item_: Will your Highness please grant me a royal decree that
the governor may not compel the said cabildo to go to his house to
hold their meetings; but that they always hold them, as is usual
and customary, in the said city hall, so that they may freely
discuss what is advisable for your Highness's service and that of
your community. For sometimes the governor has ordered the regidors
to meet in his house to hold a session of cabildo, contrary to the
privileges of the city.
Further, I petition your Highness to give me also a duplicate of the
royal decrees which have been drawn for the last ten years in favor
of that kingdom, so that, having them in its possession, they may be
executed when expedient.
_Item_: When the insurrection of the Sangleys occurred, there were
many houses near the walls, whence they did us much mischief until
these were destroyed. Your governor, Don Pedro de Acuña, ordered that
no edifice be built within three hundred paces of the wall. Will your
Highness please to have the ordinance of your governor confirmed for
the city's perpetual defense.
_Item_; That the orders and monasteries have established several
settlements about Manila, so that they can keep Indians in service
for their own works, causing the said Indians to be reserved from
personal services. For this purpose they depopulate the encomiendas,
and bring the people to Manila, and those settlements become dens
of thieves and vagabonds, and of hucksters and retailers who buy
provisions at wholesale for their retail trade, and enhance their
cost; and commit many offenses against God. I petition and supplicate
your Highness to order that those settlements be broken up, that the
Indians go to their own districts, and that only one dozen Indians
remain for each monastery.
_Item_: Inasmuch as the care and vigilance that should be exercised
toward foreigners is of great importance for the security of
that kingdom, so that it may not again suffer a disaster like the
last--especially toward the Chinese nation, with whom more risk is run,
since they are very greedy and cunning, and are bribers who easily
corrupt the judges with bribes and gifts: therefore, in order to
remedy this now and henceforth, it is advisable that a competent,
energetic, and disinterested person be chosen in that community,
who shall have under his charge that duty of cleansing the country
and giving licenses to those Chinese who are to stay, and he shall be
accompanied by a regidor. Inasmuch as, were the appointment of such
person in charge of the governor alone, it might, as it is an office
of profit and honor, be given to some of his servants or followers,
or as an investment, it is necessary that the selection of such person
be made by the entire royal Audiencia and the cabildo of the city;
since it is of so great importance, as it is the weightiest affair of
that community. Since so many will take part in the election, they
will cast their eyes on a person who is suitable for this post. To
such person the most ample commission must be given, and he shall
proceed as is the custom in war against criminals; for in any other
way, were opportunity given for appeals and suits, he would accomplish
no good. I know that from my own experience, as a person who had that
duty in charge for four years, and who labored arduously in it.
_Item_: That your Highness order straitly that no person keep
Sangleys in his house or allow them to sleep inside the city under
any consideration (for in that matter I accept no person of that
community); and that the said judge may punish such transgressors
with heavy penalties, without any one being able to prevent him.
_Item_: It is fully as advisable that no Japanese be [allowed in the
city], which is a great cause of trouble. For they are, on the one
hand, a warlike race, and easily come to blows with the Spaniards, for
they will not suffer ill-treatment. Consequently they have sometimes
risen against us, and have seized arms. This has occurred because
some soldiers have desired to harm or injure them, whereupon they,
to revenge themselves, seize certain cutlasses that they carry, and
begin to assemble together. They may place us in exceeding great
danger. On the other hand, if we are careless in permitting them,
many Japanese will come. We are in great danger, besides, lest some
take to the highways, for among those who come from those kingdoms
of Japon are many who have fled for crimes, and who have no right to
return to their country. Likewise [it is advisable to restrict their
coming] in order to preserve the friendship of the emperor; since,
if we do not retain them in that kingdom, there will be no occasion
for any event of treachery that should force us to break friendship
with him. I petition your Highness to order this straitly, and that
the said judge also have it in charge.
_Item_: There are certain depositories in the said islands called
"commons" [_comunidades_], in which each Indian places one-half fanega
of rice at the annual harvest season. Those commons were ordained
with the object and purpose that they might serve the said natives
in time of need, by relieving the poor and lending to other needy
persons, who return it at the harvest. The plan would have been of
great importance had that end been secured; but what actually occurs
is, that the alcaldes-mayor sell the rice, or appropriate and loan
it, and never return it. And between the stewards and the religious
for feasts of the village (for they are those who have charge of the
Indians of the missions), at the end of the year all the rice has been
used, so that the needs of the poor Indians are not succored. That
waste can well be avoided; and they regard it as another very large
tribute. Therefore, it is advisable for the service of God and the
welfare of those poor natives that your Highness order the said commons
to be suppressed. If it be necessary to keep them, it is advisable
that the governor of the Filipinas order that there be one reliable
steward in each one, who shall have charge of the said depository; that
no magistrate or religious put into or take out of the said commons;
and that during any time of necessity the rice be lent to the poor;
and at the harvest it be paid in kind. If this were to be put into
execution, it would be of great importance, according to an opinion
that I expressed on this matter in the Filipinas. If the above plan
were observed in the commons round about Manila, some forty in number,
there might be, as a result, one hundred thousand fanegas of rice
or more on the occasion of any sudden need, which could be placed
within the city very speedily; for, as the city has no depository,
the greatest danger of the Spaniards, in case any enemy besiege them,
lies in their capture through famine. With this the remedy would be
secure, and at the same time the Indians would be fed and aided in
their needs. When it was expected to place this plan in execution,
the said governor sent three of his servants, with a salary of seventy
reals to be paid by the commons. Those men, who consisted of judge,
alguacil-mayor, and clerk, remained at each commons, balancing
accounts and making investigations until all the contents were used
up on their said salaries. Consequently, they established order or
agreement in nothing, and all remained as before. For this reason,
then, affairs are going to pieces; for men are not sought for the
offices, but offices to accommodate whomever the governor desires.
_Item_: That many posts for alcaldes and corregidors have been
created by making two such districts out of what was formerly one,
so that the governor could accommodate persons to whom he was under
obligations. That is much to the cost of the Indians, and [an offense]
to God and to my conscience; for the multiplication of those offices
means the multiplication of those who destroy the Indians and inflict
innumerable injuries upon them. I petition and supplicate your Highness
to order the said corregidors' and alcaldes' districts remade as they
formerly were.
_Item_: That the governor be warned to endeavor to avoid, as far as
possible, the injuries inflicted upon the natives in the cutting of
wood and in personal services; for they sometimes draft them in the
planting season or at harvest, so that they lose their fields, as I
have seen. In addition to this, many times they do not pay the Indians,
because there is no money in the treasury, which is continually short
of funds. This often arises from the fact that they do not estimate
and consider the needs of the Indians with the amount of money that is
available; and consequently all the Indians complain. Finally, when
the said Indians are paid, it is done by the hand of the chiefs or
cabezas de barangay, who generally keep the money. Will your Highness
be pleased to order the governor and royal officials to avoid the
above grievances as much as possible; and when it is necessary for
the Indians to perform any personal labor, which consists generally
in the cutting of wood, to see that it be when they are not busied
in their fields--for that can generally be avoided--and that they be
paid the just wage, and that promptly. For acting in any other way
burdens your royal conscience, since those who perform such service
are very poor, and do not dare to ask for their pay, if it is not
given them. Consequently they very often do not receive it. In this
way are they much burdened by personal services.
_Item_: Considering the nature of the Indians, who are generally
indolent and lazy--inasmuch as the religious have always forbidden
them to pay the tributes in kind, insisting that they be allowed to
choose for themselves in what they wish to pay it, consequently the
rate of living has risen greatly. The country is steadily going to ruin
because the Indians are not compelled to pay in kind; for they refuse
to plant or cultivate, and all engage in mercantile pursuits, seeing
that they can easily gain the ten reals which is the amount of their
tribute. Although the effort has been made to remedy this by another
way--namely, by official visits from the alcaldes-mayor, in order that
they may rear fowls and plant fields, the result of that has been to
strip them of their possessions. For when the alcaldes-mayor go to
inspect them (that is, every four months), and do not find the fowls
that they have ordered the Indians to rear, they sentence them to a
pecuniary fine. Such is the Indian that he does not take warning from
that, nor will he work unless he knows that he must pay the tribute
in kind. Moreover, it often occurs that the justices themselves take
from the Indian the fowls that he has reared; and then when they go
to visit him and he does not have them, they punish him with stripes
and fines. Thus they practice many injustices against the Indian;
but, if he knew that he had to pay in kind, he would rear the fowls
as formerly.
_Item_: There is one abuse very worthy of correction, which is, that
the religious and alcaldes-mayor keep certain Indians in service,
whom the village grants weekly, and who are called _tanores_. Those
Indians have to serve for nothing, which is contrary to justice and
their rights. This was introduced from the custom in Nueva España. Will
your Highness be pleased to order that the said _tamores_ [_sic_]
be suppressed, or that they be paid for their toil. For they make use
of such Indians, and manage to be well served at others' expense. It
is also the custom to give fish freely on Friday, at the cost of the
village, to the alcaldes-mayor and also to the religious.
_Item_: That the royal Audiencia shall not try the suits of the
Indians in the first instance; for all the cases are brought before the
Audiencia, and the Indians spend all their substance with lawyers and
attorneys, and even go into debt, for they are fond of litigation. And
since suits conducted by audiencias last so long, the Indians spend
all their substance, which means the ruin of the country. Since your
Highness has ordered that such suits be tried summarily and orally,
will your Highness be pleased to order that that decree be observed;
and that the alcaldes-mayor and justices try in the first instance,
and in the second in a case fully proven, so that the Audiencia may
give sentence therein, and despatch the suits quickly.
_Item_: That, although your Highness has ordered that the Indians be
not fined pecuniarily, your order is disregarded, especially by certain
officials of the doctrinas [_i.e._, missions]. There is considerable
abuse in this matter that deserves remedy. In some districts, also,
very large fees are collected. Will your Highness be pleased to order
this remedied, I mean the taking in some districts of these fees by
officials of the doctrinas. [96]
_Item_: The governors have appointed captains, masters-of-camp, and
all sorts of military officers among the natives. They allow them
to have company colors, and finally are teaching them how to fight
after our manner. That means, even if we should need the Indians,
naught else than to awaken one who sleeps, until what he has practiced
becomes his purpose.
_Item_: The Portuguese of Malaca carry to the islands many
slaves--negroes, for the most part. Those are generally the worst ones
that they have, and they are drunkards, thieves, and fugitives, who
take to highway robbery; and they endanger the country considerably,
because of their number. Will your Highness be pleased to order that
no one of the said negroes or slaves be carried thither, when twelve
years old or over, under penalty of confiscation; and that that order
be rigorously executed.
_Item_: That when the governor or auditors leave their offices they
give their residencias in person; for this is of great importance,
so that they may have fear in giving the residencia. [97] It it also
advisable that public suits, both civil and criminal, be prosecuted and
concluded in course of appeal and petition in the royal Chancillería
of Manila; for it disheartens all to have to come so many thousands of
leguas, or to send with so great expense and hardship. Consequently
their grievances continue; and many, although they seek redress,
have not the means to obtain it. The said governors, inasmuch as they
represent your Highness, should treat the citizens with respect, and
not use abusive language to them, nor insult and affront them--as they
have often done, so that certain men have all but died of grief. The
governors have even exposed the citizens to great danger, by not
treating them well by word of mouth. Will your Highness please order
the said governors to be very restrained; and, should any merit it,
that he be punished as your Highness has ordered by your laws.
_Item_: Because of the increase of business in the city of Manila,
and the number of inhabitants, it is necessary for the proper despatch
of business to have one or two more notaries-public.
In regard to the prompt despatch and equipment necessary for your
Highness's two vessels that sail on that line with the trade and
merchandise of that kingdom for Nueva España (which involves the most
important affairs of that kingdom), the reform and careful management
required by that despatch are very necessary and worthy of great
consideration; for during the last ten years they have managed that
just as they pleased, most often despatching the ships beyond the
time when they were formerly despatched, and often poorly equipped
and overladen. Consequently many vessels were wrecked with a great
amount of property, in which your Highness has also lost much. And the
citizens of Manila, when they might be very prosperous and wealthy,
are, thanks to him who has despatched the vessels, very needy and
poor--so much so, that they could not collect a gratuity to give
me. Since it is a matter of so great importance, if your Highness be
pleased to order the observance of the plan that I shall set forth
in these articles, as a person who has so great experience in it,
and which has been for some time in my charge, the necessary remedy
will be applied in the following manner.
First, that the ships be despatched by the middle of June, and that
this be an inviolable law; that a fine of six thousand pesos be
imposed on the governor, to which your Highness shall immediately
condemn him if he do not despatch them then. The reason why this
is so necessary is because the vendavals generally set in at some
time in the month of June; and if they catch the ship in the port,
it cannot sail until that first monsoon passes. That usually lasts
fifteen or twenty days, or one month. If they are caught outside
during this weather, they can sail until they reach the district
and altitude where they find the usual winds, with which they can
make their said voyage easily. Consequently, they will pass Japon,
which is the point where all the difficulties of the said voyage lie,
with good weather. If the said monsoon ceases, and the ships are caught
inside the bay, as a general thing another wind, the brisa, begins to
blow, so that they are detained. Consequently, when they make the said
voyage, and reach the neighborhood of Japon, it is already September
or October. Accordingly it is necessary to run great risks, and they
must suffer many storms, with which the ships lose their rigging,
are wrecked, or have to put into port in distress. If they proceed
on their course, inasmuch as they encounter the rigor of winter, and
because of their high altitude and their departure from a warm land,
many men die; their gums decay and their teeth fall out. [98] If so
great severity is not exercised, this matter will not be remedied.
_Item_: The ships sail very unevenly, and heavily laden, so that
one-half the ship's stores are left above decks; and as the sailors are
unable to attend to necessary duties or to move about in the ships,
in the first storm the stores are all carried into the sea; and the
men left without necessary food, especially live fowls, which means
their very life. On account of their heavy cargoes they are unable
to set all sail or to resist squalls, so that they founder, put into
port in distress, are wrecked, or are long delayed on the voyage.
Again they often sail poorly repaired, because of the fault of the
shore-master [_patron de ribera_] who has charge of them. It is
necessary to remove him from that post; but, although the city has
tried to do so, it has been unable to secure redress. Thus, it is said,
the ship "San Antonio," which was wrecked in the year six hundred and
four, carried rotten timbers throughout; and in it were drowned over
three hundred persons. That said year of six hundred and four, General
Don Diego de Mendoça made port in distress, and gave the information
of which I present a copy here; he said that he was carrying rotten
masts. Inasmuch as this matter is very long, it will not be discussed
here; for, as I am a priest, it is not advisable for me to do so. In
order that the neglect that there has been in this matter may be seen,
never have the governors or royal officials investigated who has been
the cause, or why the ships have put back in distress or have been
wrecked; for that would mean to make a report against themselves. More
than four of them would have been punished rigorously had they made
reports, and had your Highness known the culprits.
_Item_: Inasmuch as the said ships sail so unevenly laden, the seamen
do not have protection from water and cold. Consequently, they
fall sick, and it has even occurred that they die and are frozen,
which is great inhumanity. It is very pitiful to see what occurs in
that navigation.
_Item_: The fireplaces in which the food is cooked are left above
deck, open to water and air, where the first storm carries them
off. It becomes necessary after that to make a fire in earthen jars
in various parts of the ship, at a very great risk of all perishing
and the ship burning--besides the fact that if it rains they cannot
cook their food. For all this it is necessary for your Highness
to order that the ships of the said line that shall be built shall
carry the fireplaces under the forecastle, and as is the custom in
this line of the Yndias; and that the storerooms of the officers of
the ship do not occupy that space. The officers sell the storerooms
to the passengers for considerable money, and stow goods in them,
which is not among the least of all the troubles.
_Item_: That the freight and cargo that the said ships must contain
be stowed in the first hold, and that between decks shall be only the
ship's stores, the chests of the sailors, the messrooms, rigging,
sails, and all necessary supplies. They should carry even rigging
for the port of Acapulco, since there is rigging at Manila which is
very cheap; and then your Highness will not have to spend vast sums
in taking it from San Juan de Lua to Acapulco overland, which is one
hundred and fifty leguas.
_Item_: That all the passengers who shall come from Filipinas to
Nueva España in the said ships should pay a fare of two hundred pesos
if they have a berth or messroom under deck, and those who do not so
have berth or messroom, one hundred pesos, as an aid in the expenses
of the ships. This should be understood not on the outward trip
[to the islands] but on the return trip. [99]
_Item_: That the sailors be not allowed to take aboard more than one
chest of goods, of the size assigned by the governor; for there is the
utmost confusion in this regard, and the sailors are allowed to carry
two or three very large chests, larger than common. They overload and
embarrass the ship; and, under pretext that they are carrying their
clothes, they take those chests full of merchandise.
_Item_: That all the passengers shall carry swords and bucklers
and arquebuses; and that the royal officials shall place on ship
arquebuses, muskets, and lances for the sailors. Those weapons are
cheap in Manila; and with them, and the artillery carried by the
ships, the latter will be well defended. They need no soldiers for
the return trip [to Nueva España], for rather the ships then carry
too many people.
_Item_: No passengers or sailors shall carry with them slave women,
a practice which gives rise to very great offenses against God. Such
shall be regarded as confiscated in the port of Acapulco. This is very
advisable, for many persons carry these women as concubines--not only
the owners of them, but others in the ships. It is not right that there
be any occasion for angering God when there is so great risk in the
voyage, as I dare to affirm; and it is certain that, in the last ten
years, while this has been so prevalent, many disasters have happened.
_Item_: That there has been great disorder in regard to lading the
ships because it has been entrusted at times to very greedy persons,
who, having but slight fear of God, sell the toneladas to, and lade
for, whomsoever they wish. Thence it generally results that the goods
of the poorest and most needy are left ashore, after the poor have
invested their capital; and, after they have paid the duties to your
Highness, they are left ruined. Consequently, the ships sail laden
more with the curses of the poor than with merchandise. That is the
greatest pity, and this evil is worthy of reform. Never has that been
punished. The reform that can be established is, that the overseers
who shall be appointed to assist in the said lading, be appointed by
open cabildo; and should such persons refuse the post, they shall be
compelled to accept it. If they are chosen in this manner, a mistake
cannot be made in the election, since all are known. The governor
shall confirm the choice, and he will thus be exempted from trouble
and will be freed by this from the complaints that he generally incurs,
because the blame is always laid on him. Certainly it belongs to him,
since, he does not appoint those that he should, but whomever he
wishes to advantage, who are at times his own servants.
_Item_: That the said ships are very ill provided with the ship-stores
necessary for the sailors; and on that account the poor sailors spend
their wages in buying provisions for the voyage. That is a great
abuse, and for that reason the ships are also overladen. Likewise
they should carry some fowls for those who fall sick, especially the
Indian common seamen, who are treated like dogs. The Spanish sailors
are more accustomed to provide such things for themselves. Inasmuch
as that voyage is so long, and no fresh provisions can be obtained on
the way, very many fall sick. For a remedy to that, God has placed,
midway in the sea and on the voyage, an island that serves as an inn
in the middle of their way, just as the Portuguese in their voyage
have one at the island of Santa Elena, where they get fresh food. That
island, which I call Rica de Plata, is large, and over one hundred
leguas in circumference. Although some ships sight it in passing,
inasmuch as its ports are unknown, no one dares to get fresh food
there. It is thought to be inhabited, for some signs of habitation
have been seen. It is very necessary that a small vessel sail from
Manila to explore it, and that it look there for a good port, so that
the ships can get water and wood, and reprovision. The exploration
of it may be of the highest importance. It is necessary also because
near that region the ships generally lose their rigging in storms, and
they can be refitted and repaired there, and can continue their voyage
without having to put back to Manila. I advised your Highness of that
some years ago, as it is so important for that voyage I believe that a
decree was sent to the governor in a former year [100] to explore it;
but that must be ordered again. A man of experience should be sent, so
that he may display the prudence and make the exploration requisite,
in accordance with the art and science of hydrography; and likewise
so that he may live in Manila and examine the pilots of that line,
and make faithful and accurate sea-charts. For that purpose I shall
give him considerable enlightenment by giving him the documents on
the demarcations, and the information that I possess, on which I
have labored much in order to serve your Highness. Nowhere does your
Highness need a cosmographer so much as in that land, for many things
that arise and may arise.
_Item_: A plan occurs to me whereby the ships that have to sail in that
line may cost your Highness less than half, and a vessel last twice
as long, compared with those that are built in Filipinas. Likewise
the Indian natives would be saved many hardships and annoyances in
the cutting of timber, which they have to do for the building of the
ships. This consists in the governor going from Manila to Vengala
and Cuchin in India to buy the ships; for they sell them there made
from an incorruptible wood together with a quantity of extra rigging
made of _cayro_, [101] which is better than that of hemp. With the
rigging alone that can be imported from there, the cost of the ship
can be saved. Thence Lascar sailors can be brought, who are cheaper
and are very good seamen. All the Portuguese of those parts use
them in navigating, and they are very needful in the Filipinas. They
will come very willingly and will save your Highness a considerable
sum. For that it is necessary to send orders to your viceroy of Goa,
and to the chief commandant of Malaca, to protect the Lascars who
shall go thither, and not to harm them.
_Item_: Your Highness granted a concession to the city of Manila of
a decree ordering your governor Don Pedro de Acuña to assign to the
cabildo of the said city seats in the cathedral, as was befitting
the chief municipal body of that kingdom. As yet these have not been
assigned, because the wives of the auditors sit inside the principal
chapel, where the said cabildo generally sat--that is, opposite the
seats of the auditors and governor.
I petition your Highness to have the said seats assigned, and to order
the wives of the said auditors to sit elsewhere, since in none of the
Yndias do the latter sit in the principal chapel, thus depriving the
said cabildo of their seats.
_Item_: The royal magazines have very few muskets and arquebuses for
the defense of that kingdom. I petition your Highness to be pleased
to have a quantity of arms sent, and also to order that they be
distributed among the citizens; and that the latter pay those who
give them those muskets and arquebuses the price that your Highness
shall have paid for them there, and the costs [of transportation].
_Item_: The province of Nueva Segovia, the most northern province of
the island of Manila, which is very near China, is a very good and
fertile land. It is becoming entirely pacified and quieted. There
the Order of St. Dominic is in charge, and they are gathering much
fruit. It is the best land in the islands and the most fertile. There,
inasmuch as the climate is temperate, the products of this country
can be produced, such as wheat, fruits, and other food. It lies in an
excellent region, and has there a Spanish city, called Nueva Segovia,
which gives name to the said province. It has but few inhabitants now,
because the encomenderos of that district go to Manila and desert
it. Will your Highness be pleased to order the said encomenderos to
live in the said city, and your governor to make efforts to settle
it, especially with people who will cultivate and sow the land, so
that that district may retain its excellence. For that purpose it is
very needful that the said governor appoint an alcalde-mayor for that
district, who shall be a lieutenant-governor, and who shall keep his
office for three-years; for [the usual] appointments as alcalde are
for but one year, and one can learn to know the country but little in
so short a time. It is necessary that the judge that shall go there
(and so that an influential and satisfactory man might be able to
go there) be given a good salary; and that that province and that of
Ylocos, which lies next to Nueva Segovia, be subject to him. That is
very necessary for the welfare of those two provinces, which are very
far from Manila.
_Item_: Will your Highness be pleased to give me a good master
shipbuilder, or authority to look for one, and another intelligent
person as shore-master, to assist in the despatch and repairs of
ships. He should be a Spaniard and not a foreigner, like the one
there now; for in former times, when Doctor Antonio de Morga, your
auditor, sailed out against a Dutchman who went to those islands,
while two ships were being prepared to attack the Dutch, two holes
were bored in one of them one night, and it began to sink, and the
sails were taken out and hid in the woods. It was not discovered
who did it, nor was any investigation even made. But one may readily
presume that some enemy to us did it; and indeed we can not settle
our suspicions on anyone. In order to investigate these and many other
actions worthy of punishment or correction which have occurred there
in these matters, and in others--for instance, that in other parts of
those islands they gave that same Dutchman food, and there was some
person who communicated with him; while it is even said that they
showed him how to get out of a harbor that he had entered, and from
which we considered it impossible for him to sail--and finally there
are many things to correct and reform, and burdens to be removed
from the Indian natives: for all these it is necessary for your
Highness to appoint a person there to make official visits through
the country. It is as necessary as the inspection itself that such
shore-master be a disinterested person and a resident of that country;
for if he is after money, he will do no good. Hence, if your Highness
be pleased to appoint such an one, there are ecclesiastical persons in
the Filipinas, as for instance the bishops, especially he of Çibu, Fray
Pedro de Agurto, who is a saintly man; an ecclesiastic, the archdeacon
of Manila, called Licentiate Don Francisco Gomez de Arellano, a most
zealous servant of God, and a father of that community--one who seeks
no money, but rather gives all his income in alms; also a Dominican
friar, the commissary of the Holy Office, who is an excellent man;
and another friar of the Order of St. Francis, called Fray Juan
Baptista. These men, besides having experience in the country,
and knowing what demands reform, are men disinterested and wholly
competent and capable. Entire faith can be given to any one of them,
with assurance. If the visitor be not one of the inhabitants there,
it is inadvisable to send him, nor is it my intent to ask for him.
_Item_: For some years past, some Indians living near by,
and our enemies, of the islands of Mindanao, Jolo, Burney, and
other neighboring islands, have become emboldened and have gone
beyond bounds. They are Mahometans, and have ruined those Filipinas
Islands--pillaging and capturing the natives, burning the churches and
images, and cutting the images with knives and destroying them, to the
great injury of our holy Catholic faith. This has reached so shameless
and bold a pass that no one--not only natives but Spaniards--dares to
go among the said islands. Those enemies have rendered the said natives
very liable to revolt, by coming daily to plunder them, and to carry
off their possessions, and their wives and children captive; and in
fact they have revolted several times, and taken to the mountains,
saying that since the Spaniards do not provide for their defense,
they will not pay tribute. Some, who are more loyal, say that,
if they are allowed to carry arms as before, they will defend their
country. After examining the cause of these troubles with great care,
the following considerations have presented themselves.
First, that, according to the command of one of your Highness's royal
decrees, such men [_i.e.,_ the Moros] cannot be slaves. As they are
a race from whom the soldiers can get no other booty, because the
Moros do not possess it, they fight unwillingly. If the soldiers
could make captives of them, they would become very eager, and that
would be a great incentive for the soldiers to destroy them. There is
less incentive for them to capture those people than to kill them,
as they do now. Again it would be very useful to the said islands,
for the natives would also be encouraged to go to war because of their
eagerness to possess slaves to cultivate their fields. Therefore, will
your Highness be pleased to order that those people be made slaves,
since their enslavement is so justifiable and of so great service
to God; or that this matter be committed to the royal Audiencia and
archbishop and bishops to determine, inasmuch as they have the matter
in hand.
_Item_: There are two other nations in the island of Manila
called Zambales and Negrillos. They are a people who live in the
mountains. They go naked, and are highwaymen; and their only ambition
is to cut off heads, in order to swallow the brains. He is most valiant
and influential who has cut off most heads. No woman will marry any one
who has not cut off some heads. They are so inhuman and churlish a race
that they do not care whether those whom they kill are women, children,
or men. They obstruct the most needed road in the island, and occupy
the best land. They are near the province of La Pampanga, which is
inhabited by an agricultural people, who support Manila. They prevent
the latter from cultivating their fields, for seldom can the Indians,
whether men or women, go out to cultivate their fields, without their
heads being cut off. Although the governors have often sent soldiers
to punish them, scarcely have the latter ever killed one of them. For
they run like deer, and have no village or fixed abode. They do not
sow grain, but live on wild fruits and game. The most efficacious
remedy will be for your Highness to order that they be made slaves
of the natives of the province of La Pampanga; for with this, through
their greed to capture these enemies so as to cultivate their fields,
the Pampangos will subdue the country in a very short time, at their
own cost. I petition your Highness to commit this matter, as above
stated, to the Audiencia, archbishop, and bishops. This is a matter
of great importance. Slavery, as practiced among the natives, is such
that they are almost not slaves at all; and the system is of great
benefit to the country. If this matter be not remedied by the above
method, the many depredations that are committed will have no check.
Also, the reason why the enemies have become emboldened beyond
their wont is for the lack in those regions of ships fit for that
warfare. For that, it must be known that those people use certain light
craft called caracoas. Those craft are short and undecked. They have
one palmo, more or less, of freeboard; and they carry eighty or one
hundred Indians who act as rowers, who use certain oars one vara in
length. Each of these vessels carries ten or twelve fighting Indians,
no more. They cannot take the open sea, except when it is very calm
weather, nor do they carry provisions for even one fortnight. When
we Spaniards used those craft, and others called vireys, which
resemble them, they greatly feared us; for, since those craft were
as light as their own, we made great havoc among those people. And
finally--although at great cost to the natives who were drafted as
rowers--those ships made the country safe; for they fought after
the manner of those people. Those vessels are not used so much
now, for in truth they cause great injuries to the natives. I do
not know whether I can say that they even care any longer for the
damage inflicted by the enemies, one reason being that they are
badly paid and badly treated, while their wives and children are
left to starve to death, and their crops go to ruin. The governors
of the Filipinas, in their effort to avoid that trouble [_i.e._,
of hostile raids] have built galleys there since the time of Doctor
Francisco de Sande until now. As I have seen personally, and as all
the inhabitants of that country know, the galleys of the Filipinas are
their destruction. The reason is that the rowers are a weak people,
and their food is not very nourishing. Accordingly, it has happened,
even lately--during Don Pedro de Acuña's term, when the galleys were
best supplied--that the crew have continued to row a galley for six
hours, and that two convicts fell dead, while the others stretched
themselves on the deck exhausted; and even if the overseers killed
them, they could not make them move. For that reason, and because the
seas have strong currents between those islands, and continual winds,
the galleys are of little use.
Another reason is that, since the galleys draw much more water than
the enemy's vessels, when the former try to make land they can cause
no injury. Another reason is that the galleys are generally anchored
in the river of Manila, and, when any necessity arises, before they
can leave the port they have to get provisions for the crew. Often
it is necessary to seek contributions of food from house to house,
because there is none in the royal magazines. If the wind is only
slightly contrary, which is generally the case, the ships cannot move,
and when they finally begin to look for the enemy, the latter are
at home, and laughing at us. Another reason is that the galleys are
an intolerable burden, which it is impossible to sustain. They have
so consumed the supplies, and so endangered the royal treasury, that
other very necessary things cannot be attended to. Further, they cause
the ships of the line, to be short of necessities and poorly equipped,
because in attending to the construction of the galleys, they neglect
the ships. And since there are many ship-worms there in the river,
which eat the ships, it is necessary to rebuild them every year, and
to be continually repairing them. Further, they are dens of thieves,
who are always assaulting and plundering the Indians. In short, they
are the destruction of that community; and hitherto have accomplished
nothing, either good or bad, that is of any importance. Further,
your Highness is under great expense with them in paying their many
salaries. Consequently, as there is little cloth in the Filipinas
with which to clothe so many, everything is, of necessity, going to
ruin, where the expenses are not measured by the revenues. All the
above evils can be corrected by ordering ships made according to the
plan and model that I left with the governor at my departure; for,
considering the said wrongs, and wishing to remedy them, I made a
ship at my own cost, which has the following peculiarities, of which
I give a description.
They are vessels that carry no more than seven oars to a bench,
although larger or smaller ones can be made. Each one will cost
your Highness two hundred and fifty ducados to build; and will
with two-thirds as many or even fewer rowers, carry twice as
many soldiers as do the caracoas. The men are protected from sun
and shower in excellent quarters which neither the caracoas nor the
galleys have. They carry food for six months, a thing which those
other vessels cannot do. They are very swift sailers, so that there
is no ship that can pass them when there is not a contrary wind
that prohibits sailing. They respond so readily to the oar, that
while testing that ship before the governor and all Manila, against
the swiftest galley of all, I left the galley more than half-way
behind. They carry sufficient artillery to destroy the vessels of
all the enemies that we have there, except those of pirates when such
should go there. For the latter it is necessary to have large ships;
and it would be advisable to keep there a couple of fragatas like
those built in Habana by Pedro Melendes.
Those ships above mentioned are not only useful for war, but can
save your Highness many expenses in ships, in carrying food and the
tributes; for, in the time while I had it, about two months, until
after I had given it to the governor, it alone accomplished more than
did all the other vessels. Consequently, a vast sum can be saved,
and the soldiers will be more eager, if they find themselves in so
advantageous a vessel. Also the natives will be spared injuries;
and innumerable other benefits will follow, which, in order to avoid
prolixity, I shall refrain from mentioning. Your viceroy of Nueva
España had me make a model of the said vessel for the exploration of
the sea of California in Mexico.
_Item_: The garrison soldiers of Manila are a cause [of the ruin of
the country], for many are killed, and they are lessened in numbers;
and they commit many vile acts, by which the Spanish nation suffers
great loss of reputation among those pagans. Inasmuch as they are
paid there in three yearly installments, the result is that, as soon
as they have received their money, most of them gamble it away in
their quarters, and then go about barefoot and naked. Many sell their
arquebuses to the natives, which is a great evil. They have to go
about begging alms and commit innumerable acts of meanness among the
pagans themselves--who, in contempt, call them "soldiers." Further,
will your Highness be pleased to order your viceroy of Nueva España
not to allow any mestizos or mulattoes to be admitted among the men
sent as reënforcements to the Filipinas; for such men give themselves
up to intoxication, and injure us greatly.
It is possible to remedy the needs of the soldiers in this manner. Your
Highness has imposed a situado of two reals on all the tributes of
those islands, in order to pay one and one-half reals to the soldiers
and one-half real to the prebendaries of the church. This amount is
paid into the royal treasury. As the treasury always falls short,
and the Audiencia has to be preferred in the payment of its salaries;
and as the galleys and many other things cause a shortage, eight or ten
months or one year are wont to pass without the soldiers receiving any
pay; consequently, one can imagine their sufferings. It will be very
important to have that situado placed in a separate fund. Since there
are three royal officials and in the said treasury two are sufficient
if one of them performs two duties (as has often been done), the third
official could take charge of that situado. He could purchase food at
the harvests which would be cheap, and every week he could give the
soldiers a ration of rice--the ordinary bread of that country--or
wheat, which is also produced there, besides giving them in money
one real per day. The amount still remaining could be paid to them
every four months in order that they might clothe themselves. If
their pay were increased by eight reals more, they could live well;
and one-half of those who die now would not die, which is much more
costly to your Highness. If your Highness is not willing to have the
royal official to whose charge that duty must fall perform it there,
a rich and very intelligent citizen should be charged with it; and
in cases of need he should have to supply what will be often necessary.
_Item_: Manila lacks artillerymen--I mean men who understand
artillery when need arises; for men are not lacking to take the
pay of artillerymen, some of whom have never heard a gun fired all
their life, but only enjoy that salary as a favor. Consequently your
Highness's revenues are spent uselessly, for such men are artillerymen
only in name. I petition your Highness that artillerymen be made to
pass an examination, or that on demand they furnish a certificate
of examination; and that whoever shall pay their salary or order
it to be paid [to incompetent men] shall incur a severe penalty;
and that any person who shall apply for a position in the artillery
service when one becomes vacant, shall, if a capable artilleryman,
be preferred to the others, and that no posts shall be granted by
favor to those who do not understand artillery.
_Item_: That camp needs a founder of artillery, who must be an
efficient and good workman; for during the last fourteen years nothing
else has been done than to spend your Highness's royal revenues in
salaries and making estimates of cost, and they have accomplished
nothing useful. There is a good supply of metals and everything else
necessary. It is extremely advisable that those islands have some
one who understands founding artillery, in order to fortify the city.
_Item_: Inasmuch as that city is so far from your Highness's eyes,
and where journeys to and fro are made with so great difficulty, it
is necessary for the good government of spiritual affairs, according
to the customary method in Yndia, that, in case of the decease of the
archbishop of Manila, his successor be appointed there; or that at
least the senior bishop, or whoever your Highness may choose, shall
govern the archbishopric. For, the first time when the archbishopric
was vacant, that city was seven years without a prelate; and the second
time, three or four years. In this matter, I must tell your Highness
that you could avoid having so many bishops there--especially those
of Caceres and Nueva Segovia, who are in that same island of Manila;
for they have no churches of importance, nor even any place wherein
suitably to keep the most holy sacrament. Neither do the bishops
do more than to confirm, and for that a bishop _in partibus_ [102]
would be sufficient. Considering that the royal treasury is poor and
cannot attend to many other necessary things, it is very inadvisable to
increase those expenses in other ways. And considering the future--for
there might happen to be persons in those bishoprics who do not think
of or profess the poverty and bareness now maintained by those who
are there--that would be a great burden on the Indian natives, and
of no use.
_Item_: That in the trade of the Filipinas with the kingdom of Japon,
in exchange for the merchandise shipped there they carry silver to
Manila; for Japon has quantities of silver, and many rich mines have
been discovered. The said silver is of the quality required by law,
its fifth is taken, and the Japanese emperor's duties are paid as they
are here paid to your Highness. Inasmuch as silver money is used in
those kingdoms and districts only by weight--and thus the citizens of
Manila receive it, while the same is usual in Piru and Nueva España,
wherever there are mines, in buying and selling with pieces of silver
marked by weight instead of being coined; and inasmuch as this is very
useful to the citizens of Manila, since, if this trade increases as it
is increasing now, it will not be necessary to trade at all with the
coined money of Nueva España: therefore I petition your Highness to
be pleased to allow the said silver to pass as it has always passed;
and that table service and other articles may be made of it without
new duties being demanded, since these are not due.
_Item_: That during the war with the Sangleys, when they revolted,
the Indian natives about Manila and La Laguna de Bay, and especially
those of the province of La Pampanga, fought with great valor against
the Sangleys, and aided us with great loyalty and willingness. It
was at a juncture when, had they joined the side of the enemies, the
Filipinas would have been ruined. Will your Highness be pleased to
order the governor to thank them for it in your Highness's name. They
will greatly esteem that, especially certain chiefs--as, for instance,
Don Guillermo, who on that occasion was master-of-camp of the
Pampanga Indians; and Don Ventura, master-of-camp of those of Bay. I
also request that the governor be commanded to order the religious
who have missions under their charge to treat the Indians well; for
they are wont to lash the natives for slight causes, and equally with
them even the chief Indian women. This is very necessary, both for
the conversion and for good example, and in order to incline them to
us and make them devoted to us. For they are a race, who, with little
effort on our part and with reasonable treatment, will do whatever we
desire. The same thing should be ordered to the alcaldes-mayor; and
your Highness should order the royal Audiencia to have any injuries
committed on the Indians rigorously punished--for, inasmuch as these
have not been so punished, many troubles have happened.
_Fernando de los Rios Coronel_
(_To be concluded_)