tilla and certain memoranda
of it were to be given. We do not know whether this has been done yet.

Because they have again written and continue to write from Yndia
that the said decrees prohibiting the said commerce are not being
observed by the Castilians, and because they everywhere encourage it
and increase to a great extent the evils that result therefrom, which
might be very serious indeed, and difficult to remedy, and involve the
total destruction and loss of those states: his Majesty ordered, for
the more thorough understanding of these details, that they should make
this report of the existing causes for not continuing this commerce,
and even for prohibiting it. These reasons are as follows:

The state of Eastern Yndia is very large, and its cities and
garrisons very distant and remote from one another, and situated in
the territories of kings and princes of great power. On this account
they are maintained by regular soldiery and very powerful fleets, of
large and small galleys and galleons. All the Portuguese resident in
those places, and other Christian vassals of his Majesty, easily bear
the excessive expense. The latter is made up by the income from those
cities and strongholds. This income, although it exceeds a million, is
not sufficient to obviate its being always pledged. Some aid in money
is sent from Portugal. This income from Yndia consists principally
in imposts from the said cities, which are paid for entries and
clearances. The entire amount of these imposts is raised on merchandise
from China, Maluco, Amboino, Banda, and other regions of the south;
for the taxes that are raised on merchandise coming from the northern
districts are of so much less importance, and the merchandise likewise,
that they cannot be compared with those of the south. The principal
commerce that the Portuguese have to live upon, is that from China
and other southern districts, because the other traffic is contracted
for by his Majesty's treasury and belongs to it. The better and more
valuable trade through the southern districts belongs to the crown.

From all this it may be inferred that if we continue this commerce
with China and other southern regions by way of the western Yndias,
the income from the customs duties, on which Yndia is supported,
will necessarily be lost. Nor will there be money or forces with which
many large fleets may be organized by his Majesty for its preservation
and defense, or with which to pay t