duces most
grain is that called Pampanga. It has two rivers, one called Bitis
[Betis] and the other Lubao, along whose banks dwell three thousand
five hundred Moros, more or less, all tillers of the soil, and taxed
to the value of eight reals each. This city and all this region is
provided with food--namely, rice, which is the bread here--by this
province; so that if the rice harvest should fail there, there would
be no place where it could be obtained. Throughout the province
there are not sufficient Indians belonging to the royal crown who
could give one thousand fanegas of income to your Majesty. These two
rivers were not included in the encomiendas made by the late Miguel
Lopez de Legaspi, governor of these islands (who apportioned a part of
that province), in order that he might request them from your Majesty
for himself. After his death, Guido de Lavasares, who succeeded him,
placed them openly to his own account, and apportioned the rest;
but I revoked the decree, and apportioned them to the royal crown
of your Majesty, where they are now; and the officials of the royal
exchequer have collected their tribute from them this year. It seems
that your Majesty has been pleased to bestow this encomienda upon
the son of the defunct adelantado, Legaspi. If this should pass to
him--as it is only reasonable to expect that it should, since such
is your Majesty's pleasure, and it is a favor to the children of him
who died in your Majesty's service--it would be most serious damage
to the condition of these islands. For not only has your Majesty no
income in grain, nor any place from which to obtain it, but these
Indians, as they are near, work very well, when told that they are
tributarios of your Majesty; and they serve in cutting wood, and do
other things which are very useful and important here. If perchance
the heir of the defunct governor should come to ask for his rights,
I believe that it would be well to ask him to do us the favor of
waiting until this point in my letter can be answered. Some plan
might be arranged, if it pleased your Majesty, so that he should be
recompensed in Nueva Espana. This will prove advantageous, since this
encomienda has been already allotted to the royal crown. I entreat
your Majesty to please to have the matter examined, because it is
important. For this reason I mention here the number of Indians,
and their tributes. It is a healthful and rich land.

104. The provinces in these islands t