esirous of leaving this country, that it causes
me much concern. I am not overcome at confronting the very great and
continuous hardships which result; but, without counting those dating
back to the time of Don Francisco Tello, those of this year alone are
enough to put us in great straits. Even the Indians have taken such
courage against the Spaniards, that they came from Mindanao in battle
array, to harry our coasts; and they have taken captive Spaniards,
and even two priests--to say nothing of innumerable Indians, whom they
seize to sell into slavery among infidels, where it is very likely that
they will abandon the faith. They have destroyed villages and churches,
and taken away much valuable spoil; and at one time it was only through
the mercy of God that they failed to capture the governor, Don Pedro
de Acuna. Other Indians, called Camucones, [18] a wretched people,
have also brought misfortunes upon our people. There arrived this year
two of the ships of those which went to Nueva Espana. The cloth sent in
one of them came back badly wet, and ruined. On this day, the first of
May, occurred in this city a conflagration--a most grievous loss, for,
according to the account of those who were present, it was no ordinary
fire, but burned the richest quarter of the city, and the convent of
St. Dominic (which was the largest here), and the royal hospital for
the Spaniards. It all happened in so singularly short a time that no
goods or property could be gotten out of the houses; accordingly, much
of the merchandise which arrived in the ships was consumed. This was
especially disastrous as this poor Spanish people, who were expecting
some alleviation of their misfortunes through the returns from their
property sent to Nueva Espana this year, lost even that consolation;
for the ships from Mexico for these islands this year were despatched
thence very late, and arrived here at the time when those from here
were departing. These are already very late, and are in great danger
that what has happened in years past will occur again--that is, to
return to port, or be lost in these seas. This is not the only evil,
for very little of the money which has come belongs to the citizens
of this country, whereas there is much belonging to Mexicans and
Peruvians. It is said that not more than a hundred and fifty thousand
pesos has come of the citizens' money, for all the islands, out of
all the amount graciously allowed by your Majesty for th