ty from the kingdom of China, and so
that all might pass through their hands; since, in whatever form the
aforesaid goods are brought, the Portuguese prove to be so interested,
and, for the same reason, as has already been stated, the inhabitants
of this city come to be so despoiled of their wealth. No less [injury]
is possible, except that, if the said trade is not suppressed, they
will finish by losing the little that they have within very few years.

The eighth. In regard to the aforesaid, we must consider that the
said Portuguese of Macan have always refused to agree by way of
_pancada_ on a general price, although the said pancada is so usual
among them in all parts where they buy and sell. During one of the
last few years, having agreed to the said pancada, and in order to
begin it having appointed a person both on their part and on that of
this city, when the prices were set those of Macan refused to accept
them, as they were not so high as they wished. For always with the
consideration of having a port to leeward (which is that some of the
said Portuguese remain in this city to sell their goods which they
have left over, in which no opposition has been shown them, either,
although it is so much to the prejudice of the common welfare of
this city), they become obstinate in whatever they desire--those who
spend the winter making a monopoly of their merchandise that is left
over, selling it at very high prices to the inhabitants who need it,
and selling some to the Sangleys of the Parian. The latter afterward
retail such merchandise to all manner of persons, doing that in the
course of the year with some gain.

The ninth point, and one which ought to be carefully considered, is,
that besides some of the Portuguese remaining in this city who come
from the city of Macan with the said merchandise, with the intent and
for the causes stated in the above article, they accomplish their ends
in another way, no less injurious to this community--namely, that some
of them have sent a very heavy export of their merchandise in the ships
despatched to Nueva Espana, although that is so stringently prohibited
by decrees and orders of his Majesty. Taking advantage of the said
opportunity, they sent it by the hands and under the names of persons
of this city, who have protected and are protecting them. Although
this city, on account of the notice given to it of this conduct, has
made all possible efforts to prevent so harmful a pro