These ships bear one hundred and thirty-six marcos of gold for your Majesty and some few gold jewels and other things, as your Majesty will order confirmed by this memorandum which the general sends.  Likewise they carry almost two hundred and eighty quintals of cinnamon, besides some belonging also to individuals, which I have not seized from them, but have paid them a moderate price for it, of which a previous account has been given to your Majesty.  Since your Majesty has not had any answer sent me regarding it, I gather that your Majesty does not desire that this should be done.  Likewise I infer the same with regard to other things to which your Majesty has had no answer made me.  And besides all this, the ships carry silks of different colors (both damasks and satins), cloth-stuffs, a little gold, and a lot of cotton mantles, both white and colored; a quantity of wax, glazed earthenware; and other knick-knacks such as fans, parasols, desks, and numberless other little manufactured articles.  On account of its being an initial attempt, and because the merchants’ interest in this commerce has not been roused or acquired, the matter of import and export duty, as I have written your Majesty, has not yet been settled upon.  For the future, however, I will see that they make payment like the rest.

I do not believe that the cinnamon will prove a success in this land, for it is very little used, because of the use here of other spices which grow in these regions.  I beg your Majesty to order what disposition is to be made of the same; and likewise to be pleased to advise me whether cinnamon imported by individuals shall be allowed to be brought here.

They say that in an island called Cauchi, not two hundred leagues from Manilla (where the Spaniards are settled now), there is a great quantity of pepper, and that the Chinese resort thither for trade.  This seems to be the best site which could be chosen, and to secure it would obviously be attended with but little difficulty.  I see no other objection in this, other than that I fear the opportunity for general trade, which is desired there, may not exist; and that the Chinese will resent being deprived of their trade, which must be very lucrative to them, or having to depend upon the Spaniards to carry on the same.  But all the ability to remove these obstacles, and to arrange everything satisfactorily, depends upon the person whom your Majesty may place there to administer justice, and to see that no wrongs are done; for in the absence of unjust conditions, self-interest will attract people.

Your Majesty orders that no Portuguese shall go to the islands; yet it is understood that some have gone there, and have married Indian women.  Will your Majesty please order whether they shall, on this account, be allowed to remain; or whether they, together with the Indian women, shall be sent away?