ritten. Everything is now being rebuilt in order to put the
fort in good condition.

I have launched four galleys, and have for them a gang of free
rowers on pay, although they are hard to manage. Even that has
been accomplished in the face of great difficulties and scruples;
for the religious say that I cannot maintain galleys or rowers, or
avail myself of Indians for that purpose. If they do not serve, it is
impossible to maintain galleys here, because there are no other people
to row. What I have been able to accomplish is that the Indians are to
remain on the galleys until your Majesty shall advise me of the plan
which you are pleased to adopt. I have manned one of the galleys with
four hundred Cambales, who were captured in war. They were given to me
by some captains and soldiers, and I have used them in your Majesty's
service. They are now on a galley and would to God that I could thus
provide everything for the many needs which your Majesty has here.

As regards the sailing of the ships on the account of your Majesty,
and not that of private persons, I have already written the weighty
reasons, and send herewith a duplicate of the letter in which they
are set forth. In fact, when all the expenses are on your Majesty's
account, this not only causes no loss whatever to your Majesty's
offices and royal exchequer, but results in great profit to this
state from the charges on the tonnage. The cost is but half of
what it is when the ships sail at the expense of private persons;
and, if your Majesty would set the price of the tonnage at the same
rate as private persons set it, there would be gained a large sum
of money. This is the truth, although in Mexico they try to argue
and discuss this point for private ends. Moreover, in this manner
deserving soldiers are utilized and occupied, as your Majesty ordains,
in these matters of transportation; and the dangers arising from the
insufficient number and the vices of those who come from Mexico in
these vessels are avoided. There are also deceits practiced by private
persons, and other reasons which I have already stated. Besides, when
the ships belong to private persons, their owners will not become
citizens of these islands; and, on account of the large amount of
money taken away by them, the prices of merchandise are raised, and
the land is ruined. I therefore repeat that if your Majesty will set
a moderate price for the tonnage on the ships, not only will there
be no ex