so excessive, that in no other kingdom of the world are
found such; so that if four merchant-vessels went to Peru annually,
all the cloth goods would be sold, as well as everything else of the
cargo. Because vessels go there only at long intervals, the people make
use of goods from Nueva Espana and China. However, in the case of the
Chinese goods, they are worn only by the very poor, and the negroes
and mulattoes (both male and female), sambahigos, [9] many Indians,
and half-breeds, and this in great number. The silks of China are much
used also in the churches of the Indians, which are thus adorned and
made decent; while before, because of inability to buy the silks of
Espana, the churches were very bare. As long as goods come in greater
abundance, the kingdom will feel less anxiety, and the cheaper will
be the goods. The increase to the royal exchequer will be greater,
since the import duties and customs increase in proportion to the
merchandise; and this increase cannot take place, if the fleets are
laid up for the winter, for by this delay the merchant-vessels cannot
be despatched annually--on which, and upon their money not lying idle,
depend the profits of the merchants.

Therefore the merchants of Peru declare that commerce should be opened
with China, and that they should be permitted to send one million
[ducados] annually in two vessels, and that this million bring back
merchandise to the same port of Callao. This merchandise will yield
six millions, of which ten per cent, paid to his Majesty, will amount
to six hundred thousand ducados. And if the license for one million
is not given, it should be for one-half, the duties on which would
be three hundred thousand ducados.

Further they declare that, if this be not conceded to them, they
should be permitted to buy and carry to Peru the merchandise taken from
China to Nueva Espana. There the duties on this merchandise would be
imposed, and they would pay seven per cent on them, notwithstanding
that only five per cent is paid in Nueva Espana. Paying seven per
cent on the merchandise from China bought in Mexico, it will be seen
of what little importance the four to six millions of ducados that
Sevilla pays to his Majesty are to the royal estate, because it does
not consent that goods from China may enter Peru.

And I assert that, should his Majesty ask me for my opinion, I would
tell him that, if it is true that the Chinese merchandise can in
no way injure the c