render obedience to his Majesty, and
that every day will give occasion for the report of more gains. May our
Lord grant your Grace many years, and His protection, as I desire. The
fortress of Tanpaca, January 4, '98. Your Grace's humble servant,

_Don Juan Ronquillo_

Report of Conditions in the Philippines

_By Antonio de Morga_

What is to be said of the condition of affairs in these Philipinas
Islands is as follows:

_Instruction and instructors of the Indians_

1. The evil example set by the religious through their vices, indecent
behavior, gambling, banquets, and festivities.

2. They trade and make a profit in their districts, from rice, wax,
wine, gold, boats, fowls, cloth, and deerskins, to the great detriment
of the Indians, as well as that of the entire country.

3. They deal openly in merchandise of the above-mentioned articles,
as well as in those of China, in the trade with Nueva Espana.

4. They usurp the royal jurisdiction, hearing, according to the due
forms of law, suits among the Indians. They have stocks, prisons,
and place of detention, where they vex, whip, and otherwise afflict
the Indians, compelling these to obey the laws they themselves make,
rather than those of the king's magistrates.

5. They distress the Indians by demanding their services as rowers;
and contributions of rice, wine, fowls, and other things, with but
slight payment, or even none.

6. They employ many more Indians than are necessary, who serve in
many capacities without pay.

7. They levy many excessive fees for baptisms, weddings, and funerals,
and then neglect to reserve the episcopal tax.

8. They erect large churches, houses, and monasteries for only one
friar, or at the most for two. They often remodel and rebuild these
edifices at a great expense to the royal treasury, encomenderos,
and Indians.

9. They put forth strenuous efforts to oblige the Indians to bequeath
at least a third of their gold and wealth to the monasteries, for
which gifts they receive more honor at their death, so that others
may be roused to do likewise. Those who do not thus give are buried
like beasts.

10. In the churches alms-boxes and chests are placed, in which they
compel both men and women alike to drop their offering each one singly,
diminishing their property.

11. They insist on the continual formation of brotherhoods and erection
of shrines, so that these may be endowed and adorned and may receive
new alms--t