The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 10 of 55: 1597-1599; 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 10 of 55: 1597-1599; 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
42. We must endeavor to have them sell the merchandise brought by
them from China freely to any person who wishes to buy; and we must
see that no advantage is taken of anyone, either in their ships or on
land, under severe penalties intended to prevent such acts--from which
arise obvious injustice, and the increase of the price of their wares.
43. An order must be given to the Chinese to sail early for these
islands, so that, during the month of May, their goods shall be sold,
and their ships go on the return voyage. This is the best thing, both
for the safety of their voyage, and the prevention of so excessive
prices on their goods.
44. We must endeavor to have them bring good merchandise, not defective
or spurious. As they are an unscrupulous race, they adulterate the
goods, which they would not do if they saw that notice was taken of
their action, and that the goods that were not up to the standard
were burned.
45. All possible care must be taken to prevent their trusting their
goods to Spaniards, for without knowing them, the Sangleys let them
have the goods at an enhanced price, without personal security; and
afterward the Sangleys tire themselves and us in trying to collect
the money, so that credit is lost.
46. Action should be taken, so that these Sangleys should
not be afflicted as at present by any judges, constables, and
interpreters--who, by various pretexts and calumnies, cheat and rob
them, and perpetrate much fraud, coercion, and bribery.
47. The great number of Sangley interpreters must be decreased. These
serve for no other purpose than to commit innumerable acts of bribery,
corruption, and fraud with the Chinese.
48. It would be much better for the Chinese who become Christians not
to dress like Spaniards. The latter should resume their accustomed
labors so that it might not be necessary for many Sangleys to remain
in the country to perform the needful service. They should cultivate
and till the soil, which they do not do at present, because of which
arise many bad results.
49. Measures must be taken to enforce his Majesty's decree, under
severe penalties, so that the royal officials, clerks, and guards
who register and appraise the merchandise of the Sangleys in their
vessels, shall not take the goods for themselves, or pick out the best,
or give promissory notes. This is very unjust and oppressive.
50. The Chinese captains and merchants should be ordered, under
penalty of being imprisoned and fined, to bring saltpeter, iron,
and other metals, which they have refused to bring of later years,
and of which there is great need.
51. When the Sangley ships are about to depart, they are ballasted
and loaded with lumber. This should be prohibited, for they fell the
trees for this, and in a short time there will be a lack of wood here.
52. All the Japanese coming hither in their vessels would better
be sent back to Xapon. Not one should be allowed to settle in this
kingdom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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