of others belonging to the most prominent citizens--that
is, those of the highest life and rank in the city. The said notary
requested me to give the said testimony, and by these presents I ask
that there be witnesses, that I the said Francisco de Avila, give my
word and truthful testimony that I have seen today, on the said date,
the said Sangleys in the said houses, selling their merchandise and
being present therein as if in their own homes. And in accordance
with the said request I have given these presents in the said city of
Manila on the said day, month, and year, being witnesses thereto the
prebendary Tomas de Cardenas, Antonio Bacan, and Alonso Cano, residents
in Manila. And therefore I have set my seal in witness of the truth.

_Francisco Davila_

We, the notaries who have here signed our names, certify and give
faith that Francisco de Avila, by whom the statement above is signed
and sealed, is a royal notary, and to the acts and instruments which
have been or are drawn before him full faith and credit are given, in
and out of court; and that this may be apparent we have given these
presents, in Manila, on the sixteenth day of the month, of June in
the year one thousand six hundred and five.

_Bartolome de Quesada_, royal notary.
_Alonzo Gomez_, his Majesty's notary.
_Francisco de Alanis_, notary-public.

LETTER FROM A CHINESE OFFICIAL TO ACUNA

(Translation of a letter from the inspector-general of Chincheo in
the kingdom of China, which was received in this year 1605, addressed
to Don Pedro de Acuna, governor and captain-general of the Filipinas
Islands. The address is to the great captain-general of Luzon. The
same letter was sent by the viceroy of Chincheo and the eunuch of
the same province; and since they are all three identical, without
any discrepancy except in the signatures, this copy stands for all
of them.)

Learning that the Chinese who went for purposes of trade to the
kingdom of Luzon have been put to death by the Spaniards, I have
inquired into the cause of these deaths and have prayed the king
that he will do justice upon the person who has been the cause of
this great evil, that redress for it may be undertaken and that the
merchants may enjoy peace and quietness. Some years before I came
here as inspector, a Sangley, by name Tionez, [_sic; sc._ Tiognen]
[37] went by permission of the king of China with three mandarins
to Luzon, searching at Cabite for gold and silver. The wh