In answer to the fourth question this witness declared that he knows that, since the Spaniards have traded with the Chinese in these islands, the natives have begun to desert their villages—some of them leaving their rice-fields, and others the cultivation of their vineyards or the planting of cotton, living in idleness and vagabondage; some have taken service Page 86with the Spaniards and others with the Chinese. All this has resulted in a corruption of their morals; for, being paid in money for their services, and having a livelihood, as stated in the question, they buy their clothes from the Sangley, abandoning all labor, being encouraged and favored by the Spaniards; and this has led to the offenses against God our Lord which are mentioned in the question—which are very numerous, as the natives are so many; and unless a remedy is quickly applied, these crimes will increase more and more each day. Thus he replied to this question.
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 Page 87Chinaman 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 Page 88report; and he signs his name. He seems about thirty years old.
Juan de Alcega
Don Juan Lisin
Domingo Birral
Before me:
Felipe Roman, notary.
[Eight more witnesses are examined; but as they testify to the same purport as the two preceding deponents (and almost in the identical language of these), we omit their testimony. All of them are Indian chiefs, from villages near Manila; and all are presumably converts, as all bear Christian forenames. At the end appear the following affidavits:]
This document was prepared and copied from the original which remains in my possession, and was prepared by me at the command of the said alcalde-mayor; and which I declare to have been truly and certainly done in the village of Bacolor on the twentieth day of the month of May, in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-one.
Witness: Pedro Garcia de Molina.