which
is that everything is going to ruin; for the Sangleys, who were not
born as fools, begin to understand the Spaniards' disposition, and
to take advantage of their lack of prudence, thus becoming richer
than they would did the latter observe moderation.

This Parian is provided with doctors and apothecaries, who post in
their shops placards printed in their own language announcing what
they have to sell. There are also many eating-houses where the Sangleys
and the natives take their meals; and I have been told that these are
frequented even by Spaniards. The handicrafts pursued by Spaniards
have all died out, because people buy their clothes and shoes from
the Sangleys, who are very good craftsmen in Spanish fashion, and make
everything at a very low cost. Although the silversmiths do not know
how to enamel (for enamel is not used in China), in other respects
they produce marvelous work in gold and silver. They are so skilful
and clever that, as soon as they see any object made by a Spanish
workman, they reproduce it with exactness. What arouses my wonder
most is, that when I arrived no Sangley knew how to paint anything;
but now they have so perfected themselves in this art that they have
produced marvelous work with both the brush and the chisel, and I
think that nothing more perfect could be produced than some of their
marble statues of the Child Jesus which I have seen. This opinion is
affirmed by all who have seen them. The churches are beginning to
be furnished with the images which the Sangleys make, and which we
greatly lacked before; and considering the ability displayed by these
people in reproducing the images which come from Espana, I believe
that soon we shall not even miss those made in Flandes. What I say of
the painters applies also to embroiderers, who are already producing
excellent embroidered works, and are continually improving in that art.

What has pleased all of us here has been the arrival of a book-binder
from Mexico. He brought books with him, set up a bindery, and hired a
Sangley who had offered his services to him. The Sangley secretly, and
without his master noticing it, watched how the latter bound books,
and lo, in less than [_blank space in Retana_] he left the house,
saying that he wished to serve him no longer, and set up a similar
shop. I assure your Majesty that he became so excellent a workman
that his master has been forced to give up the business, because the
Sangley has dra