Alonso Despia Ssaravia
[1] Situado is used here to mean the extra income from the encomiendas which is obtained by increasing the tribute from eight reals to ten. This was done at the time when Gomez Perez Dasmariñas was sent to govern the Philippines; see his instructions (Vol. VII, pp. 145, 146), and cf. Morga’s Sucesos, chap. viii (Vol. XVI of this series; and Hakluyt Society’s trans., pp. 325, 326). The two reals thus gained were to be thus applied: one-half real, to pay the obligations of the tithes; one and one-half reals, for the pay of soldiers, etc.
Prof. E.G. Bourne says: “Many of the Spanish colonies received regular situados from the crown to make up their annual deficits. The word may mean subsidy, appropriation, rent, or income, according to the context.” Humboldt mentions—in New Spain (Black’s trans.), iv, pp. 228, 229—the situados, “remittances of specie annually, made to other Spanish colonies” from the treasury of Mexico, which in 1803 amounted to 3,500,000 piastres. These remittances from Mexico of course ceased when that colony revolted from Spain and became a republic (1823).
Still another meaning of situado is given by Bowring (Philippine Islands, pp. 98, 99): “As it is, the Philippines have made, and continue to make, large contributions to the mother country, generally in excess of the stipulated amount which is called the situado.”
[2] The husk surrounding the cocoanut; it is used for making cordage and calking vessels.
[3] A prebendary who enjoys the benefice called racion.
[4] The prebendary immediately subordinate to the racionero.
[5] Barrachel: the alguacil-mayor. This word is now obsolete.