e Filipinos would be found to exhibit the same characteristic in
regard to this--especially when I remembered the system of delivering
the provinces to trading governors and monopolists and the prohibition
for so many years of trading with foreign ports, which still exists,
with the exception of the city of Manila. But in spite of the fact
that these things powerfully influence the obstruction of the founts
of wealth and choke incentives to work, I have seen things that have
made me change my opinion. For instance, I have desired to send people
to get grass for my horses; and, in spite of the facts that it was
very abundant and near, and there was not the slightest doubt about
the pay, I have been unable to get anyone to go for it. On arriving
at a village, I have endeavored to get a guide to accompany me to the
next village; and, in spite of the facts that the distance was not
more than one hour and the road excellent, I have found it difficult
to obtain him. And even I have obtained it by means of the justice, as
[a carrier of] baggage; although one pays for this service, according
to the schedule, one silver real, with which a Filipino has enough to
live on for at least two days. A few weeks before my departure from
Filipinas I was at an estate belonging to religious, where there are
various individuals who enjoy an annual salary sufficient to support
themselves, on condition that they guard the estate against robbers,
and that they work whenever necessary, in which case their day's wage
is paid them. The question was raised of transferring the rice in the
husk from one granary to another, distant about 20 paces, and they
were not to work more than the hours usual in that country, which
are very few, for which they were to be given one silver real daily,
besides their food. All this was in addition to their annual pay. It
is to be noted that the season was the dryest and coolest of the whole
year, namely, the month of January, and a Filipino's support cost then
about five cuartos per diem. However, by no means would they consent
to work consecutively all the days, for they said that when night came
they were exhausted, and needed rest on the following day. Had I not
been present there I would not have believed it. I have been in many
Filipino huts where I saw many men and women pass the day without doing
anything, while everything was indicative of their poverty. I have
examined the condition of the fields, and I have