The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXIII, 1629-30 | Page 9

margin_: "Have the fiscal see this again." "The fiscal declares that the
form is laid down by the decrees and ordinances which treat of it, and
he thinks it undesirable to make any innovation. For even though there
happen to be some officials, of those who take part in those meetings,
who are such as here described, it might also happen that there would
be rash governors who might act inconsiderately, and only through
self-will or caprice, and cause great and excessive expenses of the royal
revenues. Consequently, it is preferable that action be taken by many
votes, since in justifiable and even in doubtful cases the preference of
him who governs or presides is always followed. Madrid, July 11,
1631." "Let the ordinance be kept."]
In case that your Majesty consider it fitting to have this voyage made in
the aforesaid manner, it will be necessary for the decrees to come in
duplicate for the viceroy of Yndia, so that he may grant free passage for
this ship, and that he may give without any opposition the wares that
will have to be bought on your Majesty's account; and so that no duties
be imposed in Goa, Malaca, or any other part of Yndia, on what may be

registered in your Majesty's name. Order must also be sent to Cochin,
so that if any ship should have to be built there (as the ships cost less
there, and last longer than those of these islands) all assistance and
favor may be extended.

_Point 2 of the letter_
The second point discussed in the council is also essential; and if it be
carried out, it will be the greatest relief to the islands, and will result in
great saving for your Majesty. In the rations of rice (which is the bread
of this country) which are furnished in Cavite and other parts, more
than fifty thousand fanegas are consumed annually. This is imposed on
the Indian natives by assessment or allotment, [4] and is paid at the rate
of a peso per fanega. For the last three years the Chinese, both infidels
and Christians, have devoted their efforts to sowing rice. Consequently,
the country has been well supplied, as the Chinese are better farmers
than the Indians. Many citizens and the convents of the religious orders
have given them the loan of lands and twenty-five pesos per head, so
that they might settle and equip themselves with the necessary
implements for farming the land. The first year the Chinaman pays this
sum, and the following years gives for every hundred brazas of land
fifteen or twenty pesos rent, which is a like number of fanegas of rice.
It has seemed to me expedient that in certain uncultivated lands that
rightly remain in the name of your Majesty in the best region and lands
of the islands (which is near here, in La Laguna de [Bay], five leguas
up the river from Manila), two pieces of land should be appropriated
[for this purpose]. I am assured that these will be sufficient so that two
thousand Sangleys can be established on them; and that your Majesty
will make the profit which the inhabitants and the religious make, since
you can do so with greater advantage and protection to the farmers than
private persons can give. I am also assured that a very productive
agricultural estate can be made, by managing to obtain from it the cost
in one or two years. For the rest of the time the rent is left free [from
debt or other obligation]. For two thousand Sangleys that will amount
to forty thousand fanegas of rice; and, as it increases with time, it will
amount to fifty thousand. That is as much as these magazines need.

[_In the margin_: "Let us be informed whether any of the expenses of
those islands have been reduced." "Bring the memorandum of the
reduction that was made in the year 618."]
The gain that will accrue to your Majesty from that will be to relieve
your Majesty from the expense of fifty thousand pesos, and the Indian
natives from the assessment and allotment of fifty thousand fanegas,
which, as aforesaid, is the greatest relief for the islands, and for this
royal treasury. The risk that will be run of the money that will be
advanced to the Chinese so that they may settle and equip their farms
(in which, although it is given with confidence, there is, of course,
always some risk that some will run away and others will die), will all,
however, be of little importance, in view of the profits that are seen to
result in the estates which the religious and inhabitants are equipping.
It would be advisable for your Majesty to decree this to be carried out
without