[61] “Une loi tres-sage, mais malheureusement sans effet, qui devrait moderer cette autorite excessive, est celle qui permet a chaque citoyen de poursuivre le gouverneur veteran devant son successeur; mais celui-ci est interesse a excuser tout ce qu’on reproche a son predecesseur; et le citoyen assez temeraire pour se plaindre, est expose a de nouvelles et a de plus fortes vexations.” Voyage de La Perouse autour du Monde.  Paris, 1797, ii, p. 350.

[62] His comments on the kind of officials needed are not without interest today:  “A governor must understand war but he must not be over confident of his abilities.  Let him give ear to the advice of those who know the country where things are managed very differently from what they are in Europe.  Those who have tried to carry on war in the islands as it is carried on in Flanders and elsewhere in Europe have fallen into irreparable mistakes.  The main thing, however, is to aim at the welfare of the people, to treat them kindly, to be friendly toward foreigners, to take pains to have the ships for New Spain sail promptly and in good order, to promote trade with neighboring people and to encourage ship-building.  In a word, to live with the Indians rather like a father than like a governor.” Relation et Memorial de l’etat des Isles Philippines, et des Isles Moluques by Ferdinand de los Rios Coronel, Prestre et Procureur General des Isles Philippines, etc. Thevenot, ii (p. 23 of the Relation).

[63] Morga, p. 345. Recopilacion, lib. ii, tit. xv, ley xi.

[64] Ibid., ley lviii.  Le Gentil, ii, pp. 159, 161.

[65] Recopilacion, lib. ii, tit. xv, ley xi.

[66] Mallat, i, pp. 349-50.  For a historical summary of the variations in the names of the provinces see Retana’s Zuniga’s Estadismo, ii, p. 376 ff.

[67] They received the tribute in kind in fixed amounts and made money out of the fluctuations of the market prices.  At times of scarcity and consequent high prices this procedure doubled or trebled the burden of the tribute.  See State of the Philippine Islands, by Tomas de Comyn, translated by William Walton, p. 197.  Mallat says:  “Rien n’est plus funeste au pays que la permission qui est accordee aux alcaldes de faire le commerce pour leur compte.” i, p. 351.  See also Retana’s note, Zuniga, Estadismo, ii, p. 530.  This right to trade was abolished in 1844.

[68] “It is a fact common enough to see a hair-dresser or a lackey converted into a governor; a sailor or a deserter, transformed into a district magistrate, collector, or military commander of a populous province, without other counsellor than his own crude understanding, or any other guide than his passions.  Such a metamorphosis would excite laughter in a comedy or farce; but, realized in the theatre of human life, it must give rise to sensations of a very different nature.  Who is there that does not feel horror-struck, and tremble