It must be understood that those people are very peculiar in their traffic, costume, and customs; every day this is more evident, since some of the inhabitants of this city are natives of China.  From them it is learned that the land is very rich and thickly populated.  The king is well prepared for war and the frontiers are well fortified with many forts with artillery and garrisons wherein strict watch is kept.  They say that from the city of Canton, one of the strongest towns on the coast of the mainland, there is a distance of one year’s travel before arriving at Paquin [Pekin], the residence of the king; this means from coast to coast of the land.  There are many very populous cities on the way, but if his Majesty would be pleased So to command, they could be subdued and conquered with less than sixty good Spanish soldiers.

There are a few other small matters to be mentioned concerning Xolo, which will be made clear by what is sent in these ships.  The matter most essential to this country is what I have already referred to today, regarding trade.  May the good prospect of riches and traffic be all to the service of our Lord.

Relation of what was brought by the two ships which came from the islands of the West, and other things referring thereto given that the resources of those provinces may be better understood. [87]

448 marcos of gold, of different degrees of purity.

712 pieces of all kinds of silks.

312 quintals of cinnamon.

22,300 pieces of fine gilt china, and of other kinds of porcelain ware.

11,300 pieces of cotton cloth, each worth 2 pesos or more of common gold.

930 arrobas of wax, each arroba worth 15 pesos of common gold.

334 arrobas of cotton thread, each arroba worth 17 to 20 pesos of said gold.

Many other small articles were brought, the value of which cannot be given as it is not known.

By another ship which is now being loaded and which we expect every day, it is understood that there will come a large quantity of all the goods which these two ships have brought.

For their Majesties individually, are sent from those provinces many jewels and crowns of gold, with silks, porcelains, rich and large earthen jars, and other very excellent things which are sent by the chiefs in token of their allegiance.  For the first fruits of that land two ships are being prepared in which reenforcements of two hundred soldiers will be sent.  In the meantime, more ships are being prepared in which it is understood that many people will sail.  This good news is forwarded to his Majesty by two duplicates in different ships, which, may it please our Lord, may arrive in safety.  From Mexico, January xj, 1574.

[Endorsed at beginning. “Relation of the news written from the islands of the West, by Hernando Rrequel, government notary thereof, and others, whose letters came in one of two ships which left the port of Manila on the first of the month of July, 1573, and anchored at the port of Acapulco of this Nueva Spana on November 15 of said year.”]