156.  Many of those in the naval and military service come here who are useless and troublesome.  This is a great expense to the king, and all to no purpose.

157.  The soldiers come naked, unarmed, and starving, because their captains have only tried to cheat them.

158.  The ships return loaded with the investments of the officers of the ships.  Besides their own goods, they have been entrusted with large commissions and trusts in Mexico, which they execute and fulfil to the great deprivation of this country.  They receive excessive salaries all the time until their return to Espana, which might be dispensed with if they were officials of these islands.

159.  After they depart for Nueva Espana with their vessels, then for greater comfort and the better stowing of their merchandise, they throw overboard the goods of our citizens, without any necessity.  This they do without any feeling of compassion for the many whom they ruin.  It makes no difference to them, for they are going where they cannot be proceeded against, and where it is impossible to follow them.

160.  Usually those who come in those positions are relatives and servants of the viceroy of Nueva Espana.  They are mere youths and have no experience in their duties.  Innumerable frauds and injuries are perpetrated in the despatch of the vessels at Acapulco, of which I shall not speak in detail, for that one point alone would require a great deal of paper.  Manila, June 8, 1598.

Don Antonio de Morga

Recommendations as to Reforms Needed in the Islands

The inspection, as will be related

It is very necessary and important, Sire, that your Majesty be pleased not to entrust the inspection of encomenderos, magistrates, and collectors in this country to persons who, after the completion of their commission, must remain and live in the country as subjects—­who, on that account, would be forced to proceed timidly and with a view to what might be done by persons who have been punished and feel resentment.  Nor, after the inspection is finished, should the inspector remain among friends or enemies who have much or little property.  Neither should he remain with those of whom there is any doubt.  They are fortunate if they are such men as are suitable for this task, and if they proceed with rectitude, rigor, and example, and with zeal for the glory of God, the service of your Majesty, the welfare of this country, with a Christian and disinterested heart.  Since the above qualities are clearly in accordance with the necessity and condition of affairs, Sire, it is very necessary that he who makes the inspection for reform should possess them.  On the other hand, since it is very difficult to find such a man among the laymen in this country and region—­where the majority of those who live or come here care only for their own plans and individual interests, the