d many
therefore neglect to make themselves a home; whereas, if they did so,
it would cause them to multiply, have children, and become citizens
of the country.

Such a governor should not be allowed, either in his own name or
through a third person, to carry on trade or commerce. And the better
to hold him to this, the decision as to whether he trades or carries
on commerce should be in the hands of the magistracy, the municipal
government, and the judiciary; so that, if such charge be proved on
investigation, all the said governor's goods may be sequestered and
he be sent prisoner to your Majesty, so that you may do with him
and his as you see fit. If this be done, it is the surest means to
keep the governors in the path of rectitude, and make them perform
their duties as they should. Nothing else has wrought such ruin in
the country as the trading and trafficking of those who govern it.

And in order that this land should meet the high hopes which your
Majesty has for it, it would seem of the utmost importance to restrain
not only the governors from trading, but the soldiers as well. From
their trading have resulted losses to your Majesty, which I shall
point out.

Every year there goes out of this country to China three hundred
thousand pesos of silver, and this year more than five hundred
thousand. The Chinese obtain here much gold, which they take away,
and none of it ever comes back to this country; and what they bring
for it is the dregs of their own country, while what they take is
the fat and richness of your Majesty's realm.

Through the opportunities furnished by commerce, a great many Chinese
come hither, which is no small injury for so weak and poor a land; for
every Chinaman eats more than do five Moros and always of the best,
even though the cost is high, and in this way provisions are made
dearer. With the interest in inordinate gain, they cease to perform
their duties, because these are of less profit than trade. If this were
stopped, some of them would, for their own interest, seeing that there
is nothing else of which they are capable, stay in these islands as
farmers, others as stock-raisers; and still others would work at the
mechanical trades, and especially at building, which is so important a
trade in this country. In this way they would receive their profits,
and the Spaniards would have all the service they wanted, and that
very cheaply. If they no longer bring silk and brocades, they can