es [27] of these islands by appointment of the Audiencia, I sent
a statement of everything of importance which within the short time of
my service I was able to discover. Since that time I have considered
with care and attention the things of greatest consequence to your
royal service, and have found that I ought to give your Majesty an
account and statement of the condition in which I found affairs,
and that in which they are at present.

I reported to your Majesty the uprising of the Sangleys in the year
sixteen hundred and three, leaving military matters to the official
reports which I knew were sent. I reported to your Majesty that it
was well to consider with care what was necessary to be done for the
good government and protection of this kingdom. Afterward I saw that,
just as if the said uprising had not occurred, permission for Sangleys
to remain in this city continued to be given. They were allowed to
have habitations, dwellings, and shops--a permission which has caused
much comment and discussion. The reason is that the Audiencia took
upon itself the administration of this matter, assigning it year by
year in turn to each auditor. With the course of time the permission
has been extended, not by the will of the auditor alone, but by the
decree and direction of the Audiencia itself. The Audiencia granted
of its own free will and pleasure, without the assent of the city
and its cabildo, permission to the Sangleys to remain. The city and
cabildo remonstrated, but the Audiencia granted licenses to as many
as it pleased. In the year sixteen hundred and four, there were 457;
and in the year sixteen hundred and five they had increased to 1,648,
as is shown by the official statement which I enclose. From this
it will be seen that during this said year of sixteen hundred and
five there came from China 3,977, and that 3,687 returned; so that
290 remained here, making with those of the previous year a total
of 747. There actually remained 1,648; hence it is evident that,
besides those who were registered, 901 came here. This has been done
by granting licenses to many to live and make their abode outside
of the city, among the mountains and in other places, where they
easily receive those who disembark before the vessel has come here,
or after the ships have set out on their return voyage.

In view of this disadvantage I petitioned the Audiencia that no Sangley
may have permission to be absent at any time, especially when