to increase their trade with them and to bring many ships to these
islands laden with cloth, the natives began to wear garments of said
cloth from China, discarding their own, which they formerly used;
and whether this use has reached such a pass that there is no year
when the said natives do not buy and use for their clothing over two
hundred thousand robes of cotton and silk, which at the present time
are worth as many pesos--and in a few years will, unless this injury
[to our trade] is opposed and checked, be worth twice as much. For
as the natives are not a people who strive to acquire much property
for the purpose of leaving it to their heirs, but spend all they get
in food and drink and clothing, and as no one needs more than one or
two pieces of cloth a year, they care not whether these garments be
cheap or dear, but pay for them whatever is asked; and in this way the
price has risen so high, that a piece which at first could be bought
for two reals, now sells for ten, and very soon will cost twenty.

Also whether, for the reasons given in the preceding question, there
results what would be a serious loss to these islands, and injury to
his Majesty--that is, whether it be true that, whereas the Chinese
formerly, in payment for the clothing they brought, carried away from
these islands thirty thousand pesos in money, they now, on account
of the recklessness and extravagance of the natives, take away two
hundred thousand pesos. This money leaves the realms of his Majesty,
and is carried to a foreign country, in violation of royal edicts;
this would be prevented if the said natives were not to clothe
themselves with the said stuffs.

Also whether the said natives have, since the Spaniards have been
trading in these islands with the Chinese, abandoned the tillage
of their lands, as regards not only the cultivation of cotton, but
that of rice, wine, and other products of the country; and have given
themselves over to vice and idleness, refusing to work. For, as there
is money in the country, brought hither by the Spaniards, some of it
gets into the hands of the natives, in payment for services and in
many other ways. And thus the natives, finding the stuffs brought
by the Chinese ready at hand, and having money to pay for them,
have abandoned work and the cultivation of their lands, and become
vagabonds, both men and women--courting the favor of the Spaniards,
and committing and causing numberless offenses against Go