e tenets of our holy Catholic faith; and he
made a settlement in Los Camarines shortly after they were pacified
and discovered. Although we have not gained a complete knowledge of
the nature of the land and settling it, because Spaniards are going
about everywhere still, exploring and making an end of pacifying
it. When there is any possibility of settling it, that will be done,
as has been done in the other districts where the natives have made
and are making peace.

As regards the excessive tribute which in the "Opinion" is said to
have been collected from the natives, to generalize from individual
cases is to confuse the whole matter. We say this because a great
part of this country is taxed differently in different places, and
the natives vary in wealth. In some parts they are rich, in others
farmers, in others merchants, in others miners; and, again, in others
they live by robbery and assault. So the late governor taxed this bay
of Manila and its vicinity--being informed of, and having seen with
his own eyes, the quality and fertility of the land, and the wealth of
its natives--two fanegas each of unwinnowed rice for a year's tribute,
and a piece of colored cloth of two varas in length and one in breadth;
and, in default of this, three maes of gold--in gold, or in produce,
as they prefer. This said tribute is so moderate, that with six silver
reals, which an Indian gives to his encomendero each year, he pays
his tribute entirely. A maes of gold is commonly worth two reals, and,
when gold is worth more, the maes is worth two reals and a half; so,
even at that, it is not half the tribute that the Indians pay in Nueva
Espana. The Moros pay this tribute of three maes as being more wealthy
people, and because they are excellent farmers and traders. They are
so rich that, if they would labor and trade for four days, they would
gain enough to work off the tribute for a year. They have various
sources of gain and profit; and so they have an abundance of rich
jewels and trinkets of gold, which they wear on their persons. There
are some chiefs in this island who have on their persons ten or twelve
thousand ducats' worth of gold in jewels--to say nothing of the
lands, slaves, and mines that they own. There are so many of these
chiefs that they are innumerable. Likewise the individual subjects
of these chiefs have a great quantity of the said jewels of gold,
which they wear on their persons--bracelets, chains, and earrings
of