The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXIII, 1629-30 | Page 7

your Majesty a detailed
account of the condition of your treasury in these islands--which
beyond all doubt is very pitiable, because of the smallness of the relief
that has come these last few years from Nueva España, and the little
profit that the islands themselves have produced, because of the great
decrease in commerce. That obliges me to see what measures will be
advisable to increase the revenues and decrease the expenses of this

royal treasury. The other day, I proposed in a meeting of the treasury,
of which I send a copy, what will be seen in that copy--for whose better
understanding, and so that the advisability of the proposition may be
seen in your royal Council, I thought it fitting to write this section.

First point of the letter
Your Majesty has ordered by many decrees that we try to obtain cloves,
from our present possessions in the Malucas, and that they be cultivated
for your royal treasury. In accordance with that command--although
your Majesty's purpose had not been realized hitherto, either because
the governors my predecessors were unable (which is the most certain
thing), or they did not always have the cloves in the quantities
necessary, or because of the corrupt agents who have been occupied in
that business--I have now forty-five bars [_i.e.,_ bahars] of cloves
stored in the magazines; and I judge that an average of fifty bars per
year (rather more than less) could be obtained without much difficulty.
Considering the question of the cultivation and investment of that
quantity, I think that by no other route can this be better accomplished,
or with more gain to your royal treasury, than by way of Yndia. I base
my assertion on the following argument. Fifty bars of cloves are worth
four thousand pesos in Maluco. If they are traded for clothing such as
the Moros wear, the cost will be one-half less. The carriage from
Maluco to Manila is nothing, for they will be brought in the ships of the
usual relief expedition to those forts. The fifty bars, delivered in this
city, are worth already at least ten thousand pesos. Once laden for India,
and carried at your Majesty's account in your own ship, they will be
worth thirty-five thousand pesos and more when delivered in Goa or
Cochin, as is affirmed by men experienced in this kind of merchandise.
Your Majesty needs many things in your royal magazines which are
brought from the above-named cities, such as saltpetre, iron, anchors,
slaves for the galleys, arms, biscuits, cayro, white cloth, and wearing
apparel for convicts. Those articles are bought every year in Manila
from merchants of Yndia, at excessive rates. The thirty-five thousand
pesos resulting from the cloves having been invested, then, in those
articles at Goa or Cochin, and having been brought to Manila on your

Majesty's account and investment, will be worth at the figures now paid
for the said articles, ninety or one hundred thousand pesos. And even if
all this did not rise to so high prices, I am sure that fifty thousand pesos
(which is one-half less than one might consider them to be worth) will
be the return in products to these magazines from the fifty bars, which
will cost four thousand pesos in money at first cost, as I have said--and
if they be bought for the peculiar cloth of Yndia, two thousand pesos.
That would be a very considerable gain and relief to the royal treasury.
[1] [_In the margin_: "Consult with his Majesty as to what the governor
proposes; and say that it has been judged best, before advising what we
think of it, to refer the matter to his Majesty, so that he may order the
council of Portugal to state their opinion regarding the matter. Having
examined it from all points of view, an opinion will be given."] [2]
The expenses of that voyage will not amount to much, considering the
profit and gain. The expenses for this gain are as follows: One ship or
patache of one hundred and fifty Castilian toneladas, which, if built in
these islands, will cost, when ready to sail, ten or twelve thousand
pesos; eight pieces of bronze artillery, using balls of twelve and eight
libras, which will be worth five thousand pesos; twenty-five sailors and
a like number of musketeers, with six artillery-men, taken from those
who receive the usual pay of this camp and beach--all married men and
under such obligations that they cannot remain in Yndia, and who when
embarked will only receive an increase in their rations of biscuit, meat,
and fish, and some native wine, all of which amounts to but little; one
captain for the management of the vessel, and master, pilots,
boatswains, keeper of the arms [_guardian_], and steward--who are the