provide most carefully for the hospital for the Spaniards in this city,
and that all due hospitality be observed there. The same is to be done
in the hospital for the Indians. The hospital for the Spaniards is to
be endowed with one thousand pesos of income, and that for the Indians
with five hundred ducats, from the first repartimientos that may be
vacant. Your Majesty gives as alms to the one four hundred ducats,
and to the other two hundred, from the royal treasury of Mexico,
which also was not paid, owing to the same difficulty of my not
receiving the proper decree. This hospital is one of the good and
necessary pious works of the islands. As there are here no doctors
or medicines, conveniences or cleanliness for the cure of Spaniards,
it is a usual practice and universal remedy for all to go to the
hospital whenever ill. Thus with all possible care and cleanliness
the poor soldiers and other Spaniards are attended. The rich go also,
as there are no conveniences elsewhere. The rich pay the hospital for
treatment and medicines, and some persons even give alms. In fulfilment
of your Majesty's commands I have already endowed the hospital for the
Spaniards with the thousand pesos of income, and that for the Indians
with the five hundred ducats. I have not given the alms because, as
I have said, I did not collect it in Mexico for lack of orders; for,
although in the instruction it stated that a decree would be given
me, that was not done. There are usually many sick persons in this
hospital, and although there is now an income of two thousand seven
hundred pesos, more or less, much more is needed. Money is necessary to
build a couple of rooms where contagious diseases can be treated. Those
are the most frequent diseases in this land, on account of the heat
and humidity; and for their treatment a comfortable and well-situated
apartment is needed. Moreover, we need a kitchen and other work-rooms;
and salary for a chaplain, to confess and say mass for the sick and
administer the sacraments. He would have not a little to do. There
should also be salary for a doctor and apothecary, and money sufficient
to import medicines in bulk from Mexico. If they are bought here
there is not sufficient to pay the expenses. Hence the present income
cannot supply these necessities, unless your Majesty grant more,
as the income should be four thousand pesos. The blankets which your
Majesty orders brought from Mexico are not needed, as those o