ey are worth three or four reals apiece, and then
scarcely to be found; therefore, to remedy this loss, they ordered,
and they did so order, the said alcaldes-mayor, now and henceforth,
to reward any of the said natives who raises the number of fowls
that is called for by the said instructions. The Indians who will
not raise them can be and shall be fined one toston, which is to be
applied equally to the support of the two hospitals in this city,
those for the Spaniards and for the natives; but no other fines or
costs are to be collected from them. They shall keep a book with an
account and a report, in which they shall enter the said condemnations
in legal form--wherein they shall take great care and diligence, so
that the provisions of this act may be better enforced. In order that
the said natives may not pretend ignorance, the said alcaldes-mayor,
upon receipt of a copy of this act, authorized by the present notary,
shall have it proclaimed in the villages under their jurisdiction, with
the number of fowls that must be raised, so that the said penalties
may be imposed with more rectitude and justification. By this act,
they so voted, ordered, and decreed, and they ordained that this act
be inscribed in the book of this royal Audiencia.

_Doctor Antonio de Morga_
The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_
The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_

Before me:

_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_An act relating to slavery_.

In the city of Manila, on the second of October, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-eight, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands declared that,
whereas they had been informed that in the province of Pampanga
were many native slaves, divided among many masters--one slave often
serving ten masters, more or less--whence resulted great disservice
to God our Lord, on account of the vexations, troubles, and great
injuries received by the said slaves in serving so many masters;
and whereas they had ordered Benito de Mendiola, alcalde-mayor of the
said province, to inform himself regarding what should be done in this
matter in order to repair such wrongs; and whereas the latter, in a
petition, presented before the aforesaid Audiencia, has informed them
that no satisfactory division of the slaves is made among the heirs,
and that on this account they may be appraised at the common value and
appraisal, and when they are sold the purchase-price should be divided
among the