In reply to the seventh question he declared that he knew that all the tribes who have been discovered in these islands could plant cotton, and that the soil is adapted to that use; but that the natives of these provinces, and of those in which rice is grown, have been and are unwilling to plant cotton, fearing lest they may ruin the cultivation of rice, which is their chief article of food. But this witness is certain that, if they would consent to do so, they could plant cotton, as it is a crop that requires less labor than rice; and if cotton were cultivated at least by the Tagalos Indians, who are the laziest of all, large quantities of cotton might be gathered. With this they could make cloth of very good quality for their own garments, and even some besides for the use of the Spaniards, who wore these garments when they first came to the islands; much also would remain for shipment to Nueva España; and there would still be a large surplus of cotton for exchange against any articles they might desire. All these are facts well and publicly known, and matters of public report. The witness reiterates his statements and abides by them. He does not sign his name, as he cannot write, and appears to be about forty years old. Signed by the interpreter, and by the alcalde-mayor _Juan de Alcega_ _Domingo Birral_ Before me: _Felipe Roman_, notary public. And after the above the said alcalde-mayor caused to appear before him Don Juan Lisin, an Indian chief of the said village of Cubao, who received the oath through the said interpreter, was sworn according to the law; and on this oath, being questioned in accordance with the interrogatory, he deposed as follows: In reply to the first question this witness declared that he knew that, at the time when the Spaniards discovered and pacified these islands, all the natives thereof--and especially those of this province, as this witness has seen--wore no other garments than those made of the cloths which they then wove, which were very good; nor did they care to use, instead of this, stuffs from other countries. And although one or two ships came from China, these carried no cloth, but only plates, horns, iron, and _camanguian_, which they took in exchange for rice and gold, and for cotton in the boll, where this was grown. And thus he replied to this question.