hat he has evaded the
law which restricts the Chinese trade to citizens of the Philippine
colony, by granting licenses for trade to Peruvians, who have taken
from the islands the best of the Chinese trade, which is their main
support. A port at Canton has been opened to the Spaniards for trade;
and efforts are being made to improve this opportunity. Trade with
Siam has also begun. Tello asks that the citizens of Cebu be allowed
to trade occasionally with Peru; and that officers of vessels to Nueva
Espana be not appointed there, but in the islands. He recommends that
the Indians should be punished by moderate pecuniary-fines, rather than
by flogging. Various papers are appended to this letter by Tello. One
is a memorandum of the number of converts and missionaries in the
islands. Another is an inventory of the resources and income of the
hospital for natives, and a statement of its expenses for part of
the current year. The instructions given to the alcaldes-mayor and
to the religious for securing the formal submission of the Indians
to the authority of the Spanish king, and the measures taken for this
purpose in La Laguna, are given in detail.

The ordinances enacted by the Audiencia of Manila during the
year June, 1598, to July, 1599 (the part in this volume ends with
December, 1598) throw much light on social and economic conditions
at that time. Certain Chinese prisoners remain too long in jail for
non-payment of debts, thus causing much useless expense; their services
will hereafter be sold for the payment of their debts. Notaries must
be present at the inspection of prisons. Prisoners shall no longer
be permitted to leave the jail at their pleasure. All huckstering is
forbidden, under heavy penalties. No person whatever may leave the
islands without the governor's permission, under heavy penalties. The
prisons must be regularly visited by the auditors, so that justice
shall be promptly and duly administered. The Indians shall be
encouraged and obliged to raise poultry. Provision is made for the
aid of certain slaves in Pampanga. Another act makes regulations for
the supply of provisions in the city of Manila. Buffalo meat shall be
provided by contract with Indian hunters. The natives and Sangleys
shall be obliged to raise fowls and swine. The Indians must carry
their provisions to the city for sale; and for meat, fowls, and some
other articles the prices are fixed by the authorities. The natives
about Manila prote