and the Audiencia, on appeal, directed your Majesty's commands to
be executed. The encomenderos declare that your Majesty should meet
this expense, and are sending documents on the subject. I give this
information in order that your Majesty may be assured that this is
entirely an act of bounty on your Majesty's part, and that your Majesty
has many obligations and expenses on these islands, which must be met;
and that since your Majesty gives the wine on the royal encomiendas,
they can and should provide it on their own.

Your Majesty has commanded that no offices or places of profit
shall be given to those who hold Indians in encomienda. There are
some encomiendas so small that they are insufficient as a means of
support, and sometimes these are held by persons very well fitted
for such offices as are to be granted. It would be well if your
Majesty should command that which shall be most to your service on
this matter, that no doubt may exist. The fiscal my predecessor,
whenever offices were given to such encomenderos, was accustomed to
begin suit appealing from the governor's appointments; and he likewise
appealed and brought suit against some of those to whom the governors
made grants, on the ground that they were against decrees and the
instructions of the governor. This was a fruitful source of irritation,
the governors declaring that the offices are thus granted for the good
of your Majesty's service, although it appears that the appointees are
making gain of them. Since that which has occurred and that which may
occur is of moment, your Majesty will ordain according to your royal
pleasure, observing that the governors are subject to residencias,
and that it is difficult to bring a lawsuit with reference to every
one of their decisions made after this manner, or to undertake to
settle the question whether or no such decisions are proper.

This city of Manila is very near the villages of some Indians
who support themselves by agriculture. If there are any places
unoccupied they use them as sites for dwellings. They make use of
the grass to cover their houses and also to cover their fields,
for they always keep these covered thus during the time while the
crops begin to grow. These Indians have suffered great oppression,
for there have been established in the vicinity of this city more
than twenty-four cattle-farms. From very small beginnings they have
multiplied so greatly that in some there are more than four thou