ewith. Meanwhile order shall not be given
that the ships of this line shall sail at his Majesty's cost."]

I have already reported to your Majesty the removal from these forts
of a quantity of artillery, for the security of the two ships which
I despatched to Nueva Espana last year, eighty-eight. That carried by
one of the ships is paid for by the merchants, as well as the powder,
arms, and ammunition; and that on the other was at your Majesty's
expense. Part of the money received I sent to the kingdom of China
in order to buy what metal could be obtained. Thence they brought
me one hundred and twenty-five picos [13] (about five arrobas) of
copper, at thirteen pesos and eight rreals. With this artillery is
being cast; to take the place of the pieces carried by the ships,
I had others cast from the metal which I had here. The results are
very good. Bronze is so cheap in China, and so easy to transport
and cast in this country, that, if your Majesty will have money
sent hither from Nueva Espana for this purpose, artillery could
be provided in this country both for Nueva Espana and Piru. Will
your Majesty signify the royal pleasure in this. [_Marginal note_:
"Write to the viceroy of Nueva Espana that this seems expedient, and
that he may send money to the governor, in order that some artillery
may be made there, both for Nueva Espana and Peru. Advice as to what
is needed must be given to the viceroy of Peru."]

The trade with the Chinese is continually increasing in these
islands. About four thousand men of that land are here as a general
rule, including merchants and workmen. These become citizens and settle
in the alcaiceria [silk-market] of this city. In the surrounding
villages there are also a large number of Chinese. Their houses are
being rapidly built of stone, according to the Spanish custom. They
are very strong, large and imposing in appearance. In two or three
years, God willing, all the buildings will be erected, as also the
cathedral church, the monasteries, and other churches. They are being
built very substantially and some are already finished. The materials
are so good and the workmen, both Chinese and natives, so numerous,
that everyone is encouraged to build the houses in this manner. But
it is a melancholy fact (for it all is like an empty purse, or an
inn without a guest) that the land is unhealthful, and there are no
doctors or medicines; and so there is great lack of troops, and of
men for the usu