r him, and at
my request they remitted the lashes; but he paid the tostons before he
could leave the jail. Of these and of other wrongs to individuals so
many cases occur that I have been greatly troubled. For some would take
the goods from the Sangleys by force, and keep them; others would not
give them what the goods were worth; others would give them written
orders [Span. _cedulas_] [35] (which are much in use among them),
and afterward repudiate these. Thereupon they would hasten to me;
and, as I could not secure reparation for these wrongs, I was greatly
afflicted. The confusion and lawlessness which prevailed in taking the
goods from them was so great, that in order to get these better and
cheaper, those who had authority in this matter would not allow the
Sangleys liberty to sell to those whom they might prefer. But these
of whom I speak took all the goods. Then, after having selected what
they desired, at whatever price they might choose, they would give
the rest to their servants, friends, and associates. In consequence,
although twenty ships have come from China--and so many have never
before been seen in this space of time--nothing of all that comes from
China has been visible this year. On the contrary, Chinese goods have
risen to such excessive prices that a piece of satin formerly worth
ten or twelve tostons here, has been sold at forty or forty-five, and
yet could not be found, even for the church, which is so needy that
it has not been able to obtain silk to make a single ornament. The
same is true of all other Chinese goods, which were formerly hawked
in vain through the streets. Who may have been the cause of this,
what has become of these goods, or where they may have gone, it is
not incumbent upon me to say. What devolves upon me is, to represent
to your Majesty the condition of this country, which can not last
long volves upon me is, to represent to your Majesty the will insist
upon knowing whose is the guilt, and upon providing a remedy for your
vassals who are so greatly in need of it.

From this condition of affairs has resulted very great harm, which
must be the reason why the trade of this city has ceased. That is,
since all the goods have this year come into the possession of a few
persons, the traders who came here on the strength of reports of the
good trade in this country have not spent their money; or else those
who have spent it have bought very little, and at so high prices that
they w