of the islands; or they may plan some alliance and deviltry with the natives.  The latter being aggrieved, querulous, and dissatisfied can be moved by their persuasions, or inclined and persuaded toward their traffic, modes, and customs of more gain, comfort, and liberty, with less subjection, oppression, and ill-treatment, than are suffered and received by many.  Consequently, there is no little cause, disposition, and opportunity for any evil whatsoever, since we are so confident and these Sangleys are a people very covetous, cunning, and treacherous—­as has been experienced in the mutiny on a ship and the killing of the Spaniards who were on their way to the province of Cagayan, a few days ago.  There was also the rebellion of Cayalera, so costly, severe, and injurious, and which hindered so greatly the service of God and of your Majesty, which was to have been accomplished.  There was afterward the case of another ship of Portuguese and religious, which was bound for Malaca; and now this year, but a few days ago, a ship, with about thirty Spaniards aboard, was going to the island of Mindanao.  Many were killed, and the few who escaped were wounded and injured.  The second point is that, in addition to what has been said about this nation, they have unchaste, shameless, and abominable ways of life and customs.  Besides having enough proof and experience to be able to say this, I certify to the truth of having heard this from a religious—­a man very zealous in the service of our Lord and a minister who has charge of the Sangleys at present.  The Christian Sangleys who had acquired sufficient knowledge and experience before conversion, tell of the habits, customs, and mode of life of the heathen.  Those who were born, or reared from childhood, in these islands have heard and noted this.  They say that they would dare to certify or swear that at a certain age all, from the sons of great mandarins down to the lowest class, are guilty of one vile and abominable sin.  There is a wicked rumor here that even their king himself is no exception.  That this evil exists among this people, is not only declared, but it is a thing which has been proved, and investigated on complaint, and has at times been punished by justice.  This is the case, Sire, and the number of infidels here is very great; for in the past year, ninety-six, more than twenty-four thousand persons were said to have come.  Thirteen thousand were sent away from the country, and the number would have been greater if the ships from Castilla had arrived, thus supplying means for deporting more.  These people come to these islands and settlements, and trade very freely with the natives, who are naturally weak and covetous; and, too, they remain constantly with us.  Many of them live and sleep within the city and in the houses of the Spaniards, whose wives, children, men and women servants—­and of these last, not a few—­are there also.  Even if there were no more evils and opportunity for wrong than for