e royal treasury.

[_In the margin_: "Write to the new governor about the information
given in this letter, and the complaints that are made; and have him
remedy this evil, appointing for this persons who are of satisfactory
record, and taking care that all this be done with justice--and,
if it seem best to him, being sometimes present in person at the
inspection."]

6. From the payment of tributes by the Indians in the usual currency
there have resulted and still result many inconveniences, losses,
injuries, and diminutions to the royal exchequer; for formerly they
paid the eight reals of tribute each year in kind, which they gathered
on their lands. A short time ago they were given the alternative of
paying it in coin if they wished; and since then they have ceased
to cultivate the land, make linen fabrics, raise fowls and cattle,
or obtain gold from the mines and rivers, with which articles they
used to pay the said tribute. A great part of those articles usually
remained with them, because they had all the year for trading and
labor, by which the country was supplied with many provisions at a low
cost, and clothing of various kinds of linen, with which they were
dressed. The encomenderos sailed with these things to Nueva Espana;
and it was not necessary to pay the Chinese what was brought thence in
return, and have them carry it off to their country, as they now do,
in exchange for the said cloths which they sell. There was a great
quantity of gold which was also taken to Nueva Espana, and from that
your Majesty was paid the tenths, which amounted each year to six
or eight thousand pesos--not counting another larger quantity which
was paid by the tributaries of the encomiendas which are under the
royal crown. By reason of the said Indians not paying in kind, so
little gold has come to be mined, that in the past year, ninety-eight,
from tributes and tenths even, the amount which was collected on your
Majesty's account was not a thousand pesos. From this there follows
another inconvenience, in that, as the natives of these islands are
inclined to laziness and to the vices attendant upon that, since
they can easily pay the tribute for one year with ten reals in coin,
they seek and pay it, and dress themselves with two or three pieces
of cloth, which cost somewhat more. As they find these for sale by
the Chinese, they themselves do not manufacture them. It would be
expedient, in order that these inconveniences may cea