the said natives be neither molested nor
wronged--striving for this object, that there may be crops and other
products of the country; and that, for this purpose, the Indians shall
pay the tribute in kind. You will observe the necessary system in
taxing them, and will execute whatever decision is reached about the
matter; moreover you will inform me of what is being done, and will
always be careful to see that the Indians work in some occupation or
other and be not idle, since idleness is the chief cause of their ruin.

My governor of those islands was ordered to abolish many false musters
and extra expenses which were granted out of my treasury; but I have
heard that, although he reduced or abolished some of the said musters,
other stipends and extra expenses have since been given which had not
been usually paid--namely, to captains, alferezes, and other military
officers whom the said governor appointed over the people of the
towns. I have also heard that many alcaldes-mayor and other officials
have been added and their salary increased, so that where there was
only one alcalde-mayor, there are now three, each having a deputy, and
all drawing salaries from my treasury. I have learned that the said
officials could be reduced in the following way: In the province of
La Laguna, one alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos;
in the district of Mauban, [53] on the opposite coast [of Luzon],
one corregidor, with a salary of two hundred pesos; in the province
of Camarines, another alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred
pesos, abolishing the office recently established; in the province
of Cagallan, one alcalde-mayor; in Pangasinan, one alcalde-mayor;
in the province of Ylocos, one alcalde-mayor with the same salary,
who could administer the jurisdiction of the district of Bulacan,
thus dispensing with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for that
place; we can also dispense with the alcalde-mayor of the town of
Ytondo and of the coast of the city of Manila, all being districts
and suburbs of that city, leaving them under the jurisdiction of the
alcaldes-in-ordinary of the city of Manila, as in former times, so
that one alcalde might administer justice in the suburbs during six
months of the year, and the other serve in the city. It would also
be expedient to dispense with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for
the islands of Leite, Zamar, and Babao, which may remain in charge
of the alcalde-mayor of Zubu, as th