37. That it is expedient that the Indians be punished with some moderate fine of money, and not in rice.

Your Majesty has ordered that the Indians shall not be punished in money fines; but as they all, in their perverseness and evil disposition, are more afraid of the punishment of taking from them a real than of a hundred floggings, the desired results do not follow, and they do not plant, raise animals, and do other things tending to the production of supplies, and to the common good.  It would be well for your Majesty to give permission for the imposition of moderate fines in money.  It is particularly unfitting that the chiefs should be flogged, and in regard to this the royal Audiencia has commenced to take some action.  May our Lord protect the Catholic person of your Majesty through many happy years.  Manila, July 12, 1599.

Francisco Tello

An account of the religious orders which are in these Philipinas Islands; the provinces, houses, and religious contained in them; and the ministers whom it is necessary that his Majesty should have sent, in order that there may be sufficient religious instruction in the islands.

St. Augustine—­60 houses; they have 163 religious, and ask for 20 each year.  The Order of St. Augustine has occupied the provinces of Tagalos, Pampanga, Ylocos, and Pintados.  Being the first established in these regions, they occupy the whole country.  They have in the islands sixty houses, which contain from two to three religious each—­one hundred and eight being priests, and fifty-three lay brethren.  They will have to establish more houses—­not only for the newly-entered countries, but that there may be sufficient religious instruction in these islands.  For this it is necessary that your Majesty send each year twenty religious.  These might be brought at a less cost to the royal estate from Nueva Espana, where there are many of them; and they would do very well, as they are used to instructing Indians, and have already come half the way.

St. Francis—­40 houses; they have 120 religious, and need 50.  The Order of St. Francis has occupied the province of Camarines, and has there forty houses, and one hundred and twenty religious—­ninety-seven being preachers and priests, and twenty-three lay brethren.  They need fifty religious.

The Society of Jesus has 12 houses and 43 religious.  The Society has twelve houses, and occupies the province of Pintados, in Leite and Ibabao.  In them are forty-three religious—­twenty-three of these priests, and the rest lay brethren.  They will occupy many houses.  Religious of the Society have gone to the pacification of Mindanao, where they will administer instruction and establish more houses.  They have need of fifty religious.

St. Dominic—­12 houses; they have 71 religious, and need 50.  The Order of St. Dominic has occupied the province of Cagayan, where there are twelve houses and seventy-one religious.  They need fifty religious, in order that there may be sufficient instruction in the province of Cagayan, where they must occupy a number of houses.  Those sent should be priests, because all the lay brethren that are necessary are being received in the islands.