The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55: 1591-1593; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55: 1591-1593; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
In reply to the fifth question this witness declared that he knows
that, if the ordinance mentioned in the question is enforced with
rigor, the evils and offenses against God, before mentioned, will
cease entirely; and, the said ordinance being observed, all the people
will work, as they did before the coming of the Spaniards. Thus the
country will be maintained and well provided with all necessaries,
and the money which now goes from it will remain here, and the natives
will be rich; and besides all this the natives will weave much cloth,
and make their garments from it, as it is three times better than that
from China. There would also be a large quantity of cloth for sale
to the Spaniards, and even much which they could use for themselves,
as they did before the Sangleys began to bring goods hither. Thus
would another large sum of money remain in the country. Of all these
advantages there is great need in this country, which has suffered
because an ordinance so just and advantageous to the entire country was
not framed sooner. There would be an end of another great evil to which
the country has hitherto submitted--namely, that the Chinaman buys
cotton and takes it to his own country. And the other abuses mentioned
in the question would also cease. Thus did he reply to this question.
To the sixth question he said that the proposals therein contained
are very just for the natives of these islands, and the Chinese, if
they continue to come to this country (which will not be necessary),
will be glad to barter their goods for the articles mentioned in
the question, and will be satisfied; for they traded thus before the
coming of the Spaniards, and went away well contented. And thus will
end the outflow of the money which has been hitherto carried from
this country, and will continue to be carried away if no remedy be
applied. This was his answer.
To the seventh question he replied that all these islands, except
this province of Panpanga, and that of Calonpite and Candava, and the
river and coast of Manila--all the rest, according to statements made
to this witness by people who have visited them, are well adapted to
the growing of cotton; and if the natives are induced to plant it,
a large quantity would be produced, enough to maintain even those who
do not cultivate cotton. Then much cloth will be made for the use
of the natives, better than that which comes from China; and there
will be a surplus for shipment to Nueva España in exchange for other
things; and there will be a further surplus of cotton for trade with
the Spaniards and the Chinese--although, as already said, it would
be no injustice to the Chinese to forbid them taking cotton hence to
their own country. Thus he replied to this question. He reaffirms,
upon the oath which he has taken, that all his statements are known
to be notoriously true, and are matters of current report; and he
signs his name. He seems about thirty years old.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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