a, that the said
Sobrino came to Manila in eighty-eight with two thousand odd pesos
in Chinese goods, and left a year later with eleven thousand three
hundred pesos. On the ship sent by the governor, certain citizens
of Manila had placed funds amounting to more than one hundred and
twenty thousand pesos, the witness himself entrusting four thousand
pesos to the said Francisco Sobrino, all which money was seized by
the governor of Macan. He further states that he himself is one of
the heaviest losers by this act.]

[Captain Juan de Argumedo reported the following conversation:]
To the third question the witness testified, as before, that he was
in Macan, and knows that the Portuguese are not injured but greatly
benefited. While the witness was speaking with the chief captain
of the said city, and the mandarin of the Chinese, the latter said:
"Let the Spaniards come here and trade; for the inhabitants of your
country do not come to trade with the Chinese, as the Portuguese
do." The witness answered: "We are hindered by the Portuguese, who
do not wish us to come." Thereupon the mandarin became much vexed,
and addressing the chief captain of the Portuguese, said loudly:
"How is this, does not the land which you hold belong to the king of
China? The Portuguese have nothing to do in the matter;" and then,
addressing the witness, through an interpreter who was there, he said:
"Look you, Castilian, from now on come here and carry on your trade,
and have nothing to do with the Portuguese; for we will give you all
you need, as well as a passport." This witness then answered and said:
"Sir, it would be better to assign the Spaniards a small piece of
land near Canton, upon which to settle."

The mandarin, after a little hesitation replied: "If you will come to
Canton with me, I shall obtain a _chapa_--a passport used there--from
the viceroy, and shall see to it that the Spaniards make a settlement
in good time." As this witness had no order to that effect, and was
busy with his own affairs, he did not go to Canton, or pursue the
matter further. Considering what he has seen, he believes that the
Chinese desire the trade of the Spaniards; that, if the latter went
there, a place would be given them for a settlement; and, if the trade
were once established, he thought it certain that the holy gospel
could be communicated to the Chinese, whence would follow much good to
the service of God and of his Majesty. He knows this because it w