The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 11 of 55: 1599-1602; 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 11 of 55: 1599-1602; 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 order to remove these
difficulties, it would be expedient to impose upon the said Indians
the occupations and work for which they and the provinces where they
live are fit and suitable, with the raising of cattle; they should
also be forced to extract gold from the mines and rivers, for, if
this were done, much gold could be obtained from the mines, rivers,
and placers. Thus the Chinese trade would cease in a large degree, and
the returns from the gold and cloths which might be carried to Nueva
España would remain in the land; and that, with the gain which would
thus result to the Indians, would make them well inclined to such work,
and cause them to do it willingly. The main point to be settled in
order that the Indians may be influenced to undertake it is, to make
them pay the tribute in kind. And since much attention and thoughtful
consideration should be given to what is here pointed out, not only
for the welfare of the Indians but for that of the commonwealth--since
if the land itself could provide and supply produce and merchandise,
that would be more advantageous than to procure them from outside;
and the gold and silver which is now taken away to foreign and pagan
kingdoms would remain in the land itself--I charge and command you
that, as soon as you reach the said islands, you call together my royal
Audiencia there; the honored prelates who shall be in Manila, and the
superiors of the religious orders--informing of this matter, by letter,
those who cannot easily go thither--and confer and deliberate with them
on all that is expedient and necessary to be done. In this conference
you shall keep in mind the welfare and preservation of the Indians and
of the country, and see that the said natives be neither molested nor
wronged--striving for this object, that there may be crops and other
products of the country; and that, for this purpose, the Indians shall
pay the tribute in kind. You will observe the necessary system in
taxing them, and will execute whatever decision is reached about the
matter; moreover you will inform me of what is being done, and will
always be careful to see that the Indians work in some occupation or
other and be not idle, since idleness is the chief cause of their ruin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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