e of great service in the despatching
of the fleets that your Majesty will cause to be constructed here. I
have also procured pitch for the same purpose; and, although there is
not much of it, what has been discovered will be of great assistance.

The baptism of the natives steadily continues, and they are being
received into our holy faith and religion. I hope in our Lord that
the spiritual and temporal good will continue to increase day by day,
to the glory of our Lord and to your Majesty's honor. It will conduce
much to the conversion of these natives to have some religious of
the society of Jesus, and friars of the order of St. Francis, come
to these districts; because it has a most edifying influence upon the
covetous disposition of these barbarians, to see that those fathers do
not receive or have anything to do with money--which will be a good
example for them. May your Majesty provide in this regard according
to your pleasure, for it would certainly greatly rejoice everyone to
see those holy people here.

As the labors that have been endured and are being endured in this
expedition are prolonged and heavy, it has happened that many of
the _encomenderos_ [52] to whom _repartimientos_ were given have
died. Understanding that it will be for the good of your Majesty's
service, I have reapportioned and am reapportioning the Indians,
as is done in Gautemala and other parts of the Indies. I beg your
Majesty to favor this and send confirmation of it, because in no
other way can this island be maintained for the present.

I send to beg your Majesty to grant me favor regarding certain
petitions made in my own name. I am confident of receiving this as from
a lord and prince so magnanimous that he will take into account that I
have busied myself almost all my life in your royal service. So also
those who have served your Majesty in these regions send, severally
and jointly, to beg your Majesty to reward them, having recourse to
your Majesty as to a fountain of all liberality, all being confident
of receiving what they ask, as they are continually receiving favors.

Martin de Goiti has served and serves your Majesty in this country
in the capacity of master-of-camp. With great faith and diligence has
he served, and serves, notwithstanding his age or sufferings. On the
contrary, he is just as ready today to undergo hardship as he was the
first day. So on account of his qualities and his experience in warlike
matters and t