Much of this is apparently the gossip of the Parian; but it
affords curious side-lights on the relations between the Japanese,
Chinese, and Spaniards. A letter from Dasmarinas to the Japanese
emperor (May 20, 1593) announces his despatch of another envoy,
the Franciscan priest Pedro Baptista.

Governor Dasmarinas writes (June 20, 1593) to King Felipe,
reporting the present state of affairs in he islands. He asks
for more missionaries, and states the qualifications that they
should possess. He intends to found a new Spanish colony in the
recently-pacified district of Tuy. All Luzon has now been explored
and pacified. The fortifications of Manila are now in good condition;
accordingly, the city is safe from outside enemies, and the natives
can see that the Spanish occupation is a permanent one. The cathedral
is so nearly completed that worship is celebrated therein; and the
convent of Sancta Potenciana is well under way. Galleys are patrolling
the coast to watch for enemies; but the clergy have so opposed the
efforts of the governor to man the galleys that he could not equip
them as well as he desired. The permission given to the Indians to
pay their tributes in produce or in coin, as they might choose, is
leading to the ruin of the country; for the natives are in consequence
neglecting their industries and manufactures, and prices are much
higher. The royal officials, therefore, now collect the tributes
in produce only. Again the governor complains of the marriages of
wealthy widows to adventurers, who have thus "defrauded several
very honorable and worthy captains and soldiers who serve here;"
he recommends that heiresses be not allowed to marry without the
king's consent. He also advises that all collections of tributes be
made by the royal officials, who should pay the encomenderos their
dues. Another letter of the same date is especially interesting,
as containing the earliest data thus far available on the first
printing in the Philippines. Dasmarinas desires the king to provide
some suitable design for the coat-of-arms of the city of Manila. He
protests against the heavy duties levied in Mexico on goods exported
from the islands. These letters are followed by a memorandum--unsigned
and undated, but probably written about 1593--of "the troops required
in the Philippines;" this is itemized, and gives a total of 1,517. On
September 27, 1593, Dasmarinas sends a friendly letter, with gifts,
to the king of Camboja, who