ny very rare articles.

They brought specimens of many kinds of goods peculiar to their
country, in order to arrange the price at which they can be sold--such
as quicksilver, powder, pepper, fine cinnamon, cloves, sugar, iron,
copper, tin, brass, silks in textiles of many kinds and in skeins,
realgar, [86] camphor, various kinds of crockery, luscious and sweet
oranges; and a thousand other goods and trifles quite as many as the
Flemings bring. Moreover, they brought images of crucifixes and very
curious seals, made like ours. The cause of this unusual visit is
that freedom, and passage to their own country, were given to some
Chinese who were slaves among us; those people spread the news of
this settlement, where they could come with safety and trade freely;
accordingly they came, with the ships and goods to which we have
already referred.

It must be understood that those people are very peculiar in their
traffic, costume, and customs; every day this is more evident, since
some of the inhabitants of this city are natives of China. From them
it is learned that the land is very rich and thickly populated. The
king is well prepared for war and the frontiers are well fortified
with many forts with artillery and garrisons wherein strict watch
is kept. They say that from the city of Canton, one of the strongest
towns on the coast of the mainland, there is a distance of one year's
travel before arriving at Paquin [Pekin], the residence of the king;
this means from coast to coast of the land. There are many very
populous cities on the way, but if his Majesty would be pleased So
to command, they could be subdued and conquered with less than sixty
good Spanish soldiers.

There are a few other small matters to be mentioned concerning Xolo,
which will be made clear by what is sent in these ships. The matter
most essential to this country is what I have already referred to
today, regarding trade. May the good prospect of riches and traffic
be all to the service of our Lord.

_Relation of what was brought by the two ships which came from the
islands of the West, and other things referring thereto given that
the resources of those provinces may be better understood._ [87]

448 marcos of gold, of different degrees of purity.

712 pieces of all kinds of silks.

312 quintals of cinnamon.

22,300 pieces of fine gilt china, and of other kinds of porcelain ware.

11,300 pieces of cotton cloth, each worth 2 pesos or more of commo