r them, as they have intimated to some who were in
their power, and whom afterward they set free--[telling them] that
they levy no tributes from them, nor have they any friars to flog the
Indians, nor any religious teaching; on this they base their hopes
of limiting our power in this land, which without this means they
cannot expect. It is necessary on the one hand to punish severely the
presumption of these natives, and on the other not to afflict them or
make them desperate. It is very certain, thanks be to God, that for
my own part I have kept them all contented, favored, and well paid,
without consenting that, even for the service of your Majesty, they
should suffer any oppression; and they prove this by the contentment
in which they live and with which they aid [me] in every way, as is
well known. There must be in that court [of Espana] enough persons,
both religious and laymen, who have gone from here who can tell
you this. But all this is not enough, nor even holding in check
the alcaldes-mayor, encomenderos, and collectors, if the ministers
in the missions will not treat them well. For it is not sufficient
to protect them from the oppressions of the passing Spaniards, who
will be forgotten, if on the other hand they are liable--on account
of their service, or for some displeasure, or for gain, or because
they do not know as much theology as the others--to be flogged or
put in the stocks, and to suffer other hardships, which they feel,
even though they are Indians. These fathers of St. Dominic are not
their least oppressors, although I do not know whether they take
from them anything which is of importance; and they favor them much
and even at times in a manner not very honorable. The friars serve as
protectors to them and inspire them to boldness; and now by this path
of protection, and again by that of punishment, the Indians are all
being brought to recognize them as powerful lords, in both spiritual
and temporal matters. So far has this gone that, if the alcalde-mayor
orders anything, even though it be just and necessary and for the
service of your Majesty, if the friar orders something else, it must
be as the latter desires, at least for the time being, until a more
urgent order is issued. Your Majesty will be pleased to consider what
is best to decree in regard to this for the future, as I am applying
the most gentle and expedient means and correctives for the present.

According to the distribution of lice