nd Chinese Indians called Sangleys, and in the other
islands over ten thousand more, have all come from Great China and
Japon for their own private affairs and interests. It is they who
build up and maintain the greater part of the traffic and commerce
of the islands. From that result the trade with Nueva Espana, and
the ships which sail thither annually, laden with many different
kinds of merchandise (carried [to Manila] and bartered by the said
Sangleys)--such as much gold (wrought, and in sheets); diamonds,
rubies, and other gems, besides a great quantity of pearls; many silk
textiles of all colors--taffetas, damasks, satins, silk grograms,
and velvets--and raw silk; a quantity of white and black cotton cloth;
amber, civet, musk, and storax. Thence arises annually great gain to
the royal treasury, on account of the many considerable duties which
are paid and collected--both when the ships leave the said city of
Manila, and their islands and ports, and in that of Acapulco; and
later, when they enter Nueva Espana and the City of Mexico. There,
when the ships leave for the said Filipinas, the duties are doubled,
as well as in the said port of Acapulco, by those duties anew incurred
and paid, the [trade of the] said Sangleys being a great part in
this receipt [_adquisicion_]. Of no less consideration is the tribute
which the Sangleys pay to the royal treasury for their license, and
right of entrance and residence in the said village of the Parian,
and in the other islands where they reside. Since the said Sangleys
number thirty [thousand], they pay in most years an annual sum of two
hundred and seventy thousand reals of eight (which means nine reals of
eight for each license), which are placed in the royal treasury. In
the islands of Pintados and other islands which belong to the said
Filipinas, there are one hundred and fourteen thousand two hundred and
seventeen Indians, all paying tribute to the royal treasury. Their
conservation is very necessary, as they are no longer wild and are
excellent workmen, and for that reason are people of utility and
profit for any occasion that may arise--especially as there are also
many gold mines in the said islands, whence is obtained a quantity
of gold. There are also other fruits of the land in great abundance,
especially wax, cotton, large cattle, swine, fowls, rice, and civet,
besides other innumerable products and means of gain. All of this
tells and publishes the great importanc