_An act concerning the royal magazines._
In the city of Manila, on the eighteenth of March, one thousand
five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the
royal Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands, having
examined the opinion of the official judges of the royal exchequer
of these islands, on the question of building magazines in which
to store the merchandise coming from China to this city, and having
investigated other matters connected with the aforesaid, and further
matter which is contained in the decree of the king our sovereign,
ordering that this said Audiencia attend to the matter: they declared
(in conformity with the opinion of Joan de Bustamante, accountant of
the royal exchequer) that at present, and until experience further
shows what it is most advisable to enact in this matter, the said
Chinese merchandise shall be registered and appraised on the same
vessels on which it was brought, as has been done hitherto. In order
that there may be good accounts and reports, and less opportunity for
fraud in the royal customs, they ordered that the official judges of
his Majesty in these islands, as soon as each ship enters this harbor
and anchors therein, shall go out to inspect it, registering and
appraising all the merchandise and other things in the cargo. They
shall exert diligence in the matter and make their inspection with
the punctuality advisable, so that the said merchandise, or any part
of it, may not be discharged or concealed. In order that this may
be enforced more effectually, the necessary guards shall be placed
on the said ships and in the bay, who are to be trustworthy persons,
to the satisfaction of the said president and auditors of this royal
Audiencia, by whom they shall be approved and appointed, The said
official judges shall have, as a reward for their occupation and
labors, one third part of the confiscations which are levied upon any
merchandise found and seized because it had been hidden on the said
ships, or withdrawn from them without registration or appraisal. They
shall also be charged that they shall not allow or consent that,
while the said merchandise is on the said ships, either the royal
officials or their assistants, or any other person--Spanish, Sangley,
or native--shall take, buy, or transport the said merchandise in large
or small quantities, for cash or on credit; but that the merchants
thereof, who brought the merchandise from China on the said ship,
after making registry and appraisal, may take them ashore freely and
where they will, without any obstacle or hindrance from anyone--with
the warning that, if any one of them do not so observe and fulfil
this act, he shall be proceeded against with the full rigor of the
law. They ordered that a commission, in due form, be given to the said
guards, both in order that they may wield the authority of justice,
and that there be no other guards but those who are so nominated by
this royal Audiencia; those hitherto acting as guards shall exercise
the said duty no longer, under the penalties incurred by those who
so act without power or commission in the matter. This act shall be
made known to his Majesty's officials, and the chief clerk of mines,
and the regidors, for those who are at present guards; and it shall
be added to the other acts and investigations made by virtue of the
said royal decree of his Majesty. By this act, they so voted, ordered,
and decreed.