3. The injuries inflicted in the collection of tributes. Third:  His Majesty should be informed of the great lack of system and the confusion existing in the collection of tributes, and the many injuries inflicted on the Indians by the Spaniards and their great opportunity for inflicting them; for, as he who made the assessments in die beginning was not a lawyer (as the first governors were not lawyers—­Madrid MS.), nor acquainted with the mischief that could happen later in the collections, he rendered them very confused and vexatious.  Although, in its general understanding, and in the usage of the first years, it is seen that the tribute amounted to the value of eight reals, paid in what the Indian possessed and desired to pay, still in certain words and clauses regarding the assessments and the articles which they fix as payment for the tributes—­such as cotton cloth, rice, and other products of the country, or three mayces of gold and one fowl—­opportunity is given for the lack of system now existing, each one collecting as he pleases, with great offense to the Indians, and harm to the country.  For when gold is plentiful, and reals scarce, they ask for reals; when the latter are plentiful, and there is a scarcity of gold, they ask for gold, even when the Indians have to buy it; and when crops are plentiful, they ask for money, but when these are lacking, they ask for produce—­such as rice, etc.—­even all that the Indians have, and they are compelled to travel great distances to try to buy it at high rates.  Thus, where the tribute is eight reals, some collect fifteen, and others twenty, twenty-five, thirty, and more, on account of the value of the articles that they demand, which they compel the Indians to search for and bring from other districts.  Through this the Indians endure so great oppression and distress, that, on this account, several provinces have revolted, and others will not pay, except by force and with much disturbance.  All, including the encomenderos themselves, desire that this matter be cleared up; but the royal Audiencia did not care to meddle with it, as it is a matter of tributes, and pertains solely to his Majesty.  It is necessary that the tributes be in the standard of Castilian reals, paid in money, or in the produce of the soil, as the Indian has them, and as he chooses, provided that their value remains.

4. That his Majesty order the Spaniards to release their Indian slaves. Fourth:  Although many of the Spaniards (all the Spaniards who have tender consciences—­Madrid MS.), have, in obedience to his Majesty’s decrees, given up the Indians whom they held as slaves, many others still retain them—­forbidding them to have house or property of their own, or to live in their own villages and doctrinas. [42] A new decree is necessary, so that an end may be put to all this pest, as was done in Nueba Espana and Piru.