There are long passages and the buildings are quadrangular in shape.  This Parian was also destroyed by fire on account of the houses being built of reeds; but through the diligence of the president and governor, Doctor Vera, much better houses were built, and covered with tiles for protection against fire.  This Parian has so adorned the city that I do not hesitate to affirm to your Majesty that no other known city in Espana or in these regions possesses anything so well worth seeing as this; for in it can be found the whole trade of China, with all kinds of goods and curious things which come from that country.  These articles have already begun to be manufactured here, as quickly and with better finish than in China; and this is due to the intercourse between Chinese and Spaniards, which has enabled the former to perfect themselves in things which they were not wont to produce in China.  In this Parian are to be found workmen of all trades and handicrafts of a nation, and many of them in each occupation.  They make much prettier articles than are made in Espana, and sometimes so cheap that I am ashamed to mention it.  If we Castilians were as cautious as the Portuguese in trading with them, these articles would be much cheaper, and the Chinese would still gain by it.  For goods are sold at a very low cost in China; and, no matter how little profit they make there, when these objects are sold here they yield large profits.  But no restraint can be put upon the Castilians, nor can they be regulated—­the consequence of 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