account, apparently obtained from conversations held with this Antonio and several others, of intrigues and plots among the Japanese to subdue the Philippines, as they have done with Corea.  The Spaniards are warned against the Chinese who are in Manila.  Much of this is apparently the gossip of the Parian; but it affords curious side-lights on the relations between the Japanese, Chinese, and Spaniards.  A letter from Dasmarinas to the Japanese emperor (May 20, 1593) announces his despatch of another envoy, the Franciscan priest Pedro Baptista.

Governor Dasmarinas writes (June 20, 1593) to King Felipe, reporting the present state of affairs in he islands.  He asks for more missionaries, and states the qualifications that they should possess.  He intends to found a new Spanish colony in the recently-pacified district of Tuy.  All Luzon has now been explored and pacified.  The fortifications of Manila are now in good condition; accordingly, the city is safe from outside enemies, and the natives can see that the Spanish occupation is a permanent one.  The cathedral is so nearly completed that worship is celebrated therein; and the convent of Sancta Potenciana is well under way.  Galleys are patrolling the coast to watch for enemies; but the clergy have so opposed the efforts of the governor to man the galleys that he could not equip them as well as he desired.  The permission given to the Indians to pay their tributes in produce or in coin, as they might choose, is leading to the ruin of the country; for the natives are in consequence neglecting their industries and manufactures, and prices are much higher.  The royal officials, therefore, now collect the tributes in produce only.  Again the governor complains of the marriages of wealthy widows to adventurers, who have thus “defrauded several very honorable and worthy captains and soldiers who serve here;” he recommends that heiresses be not allowed to marry without the king’s consent.  He also advises that all collections of tributes be made by the royal officials, who should pay the encomenderos their dues.  Another letter of the same date is especially interesting, as containing the earliest data thus far available on the first printing in the Philippines.  Dasmarinas desires the king to provide some suitable design for the coat-of-arms of the city of Manila.  He protests against the heavy duties levied in Mexico on goods exported from the islands.  These letters are followed by a memorandum—­unsigned and undated, but probably written about 1593—­of “the troops required in the Philippines;” this is itemized, and gives a total of 1,517.  On September 27, 1593, Dasmarinas sends a friendly letter, with gifts, to the king of Camboja, who is threatened by the king of Siam; and he offers to be arbitrator of their differences.  An unsigned list (1594?) is given of the villages reduced by the Spaniards under an officer named Berramontano.