the much greater frequency and shortness of
the voyage. Furthermore, they would enjoy the entire proceeds from
the returns for their goods. Of the returns from Nueva Spana they
enjoy only to the sum of five hundred thousand pesos--the amount that
his Majesty allows to be sent annually to the Philipinas, and no more,
although the value of the goods in Mexico amounts to much more. Besides
that, this relationship with Japon would prove very beneficial to the
Philipinas for their security; because the Japanese are those who are
more feared in the islands than all the other neighboring nations,
for they are very courageous and arrogant. Consequently they would
prove excellent friends to oppose the Dutch, who are navigating
those seas. Also by means of this trade the church of that kingdom,
which is now so disturbed, would be made safe. By it would also be
reestablished the trade of the Indias with Spana, from which so many
profits would follow if that drain of money to the Philipinas were
stopped; and it would be without hurt to those islands.

This trade between Manila and Japon has already been usual for many
years, although in ships of small burden. It has been demonstrated
by experience that if all the trade to Japon were theirs, all that
country [_i.e._, the Philippines] could be very easily sustained
without needing anything further from Nueva Spana and Spana than
soldiers and the products of those countries. Consequently it would be
sufficient for two small vessels to sail in that route of the South
Sea. That would cost but little and that expense might even be met
from the royal treasury of Manila.

But the greatest bulk of this trade is from the Portuguese of Macan,
a town on the Chinese coast, which is about the same distance from
Japon as Manila. All its inhabitants, in number about three hundred,
support themselves by that trade; for, although they have other trade,
it is of slight importance.

Therefore, it is advisable, in order to attain the said trade, that
that town be abandoned, and that its inhabitants go to live in other
cities of India. They can do that without much injury to their goods,
since they carry them all by sea; and anywhere they have trade by
way of the sea. In order to dismantle that town, it is sufficient
for his Majesty to order that nothing be freighted thence to Japon,
but only from Manila. Thereupon all the inhabitants would immediately
pull up stakes [59] and leave that place.

Al