The fiscal of the Audiencia of the said islands has written me that since the Indians do not pay the eight reals tribute in kind, as they were wont to do, but it has been left to their choice instead, many difficulties have been and are being experienced, detrimental to the newly-pacified Indians, to my exchequer, and to the commonwealth; because, when they gave the produce of the land in payment of the tribute, they cultivated and gathered it, and, besides paying the tribute, there was left to them a large quantity of produce, which they kept for their trade and crafts.  The result was that the community was well provided with abundance of supplies, at little cost, and with cloth of various fabrics, with which they clothed themselves.  The encomenderos shipped these articles to Nueva Espana, and the returns therefrom remained in the islands instead of being taken away by the Chinese, as is done now; for the stuffs are being bought from the Chinese, and the Indians of the islands no longer manufacture them.  Much gold was also taken to Nueva Espana, from which the tenth was paid to me to the yearly amount of six or eight thousand pesos, not to mention the larger amount which was paid for the tributes of the encomiendas which are assigned to my crown; but since the tribute is not paid in kind, hardly any gold is mined now.  Another trouble that results from this is, that the Indians, who are naturally prone to idleness, easily earn enough with which to pay the tribute and buy stuffs from the Chinese with which to clothe themselves, and so do not manufacture these.  In order to remove these difficulties, it would be expedient to impose upon the said Indians the occupations and work for which they and the provinces where they live are fit and suitable, with the raising of cattle; they should also be forced to extract gold from the mines and rivers, for, if this were done, much gold could be obtained from the mines, rivers, and placers.  Thus the Chinese trade would cease in a large degree, and the returns from the gold and cloths which might be carried to Nueva Espana would remain in the land; and that, with the gain which would thus result to the Indians, would make them well inclined to such work, and cause them to do it willingly.  The main point to be settled in order that the Indians may be influenced to undertake it is, to make them pay the tribute in kind.  And since much attention and thoughtful consideration should be given to what is here pointed out, not only for the welfare of the Indians but for that of the commonwealth—­since if the land itself could provide and supply produce and merchandise, that would be more advantageous than to procure them from outside; and the gold and silver which is now taken away to foreign and pagan kingdoms would remain in the land itself—­I charge and command you that, as soon as you reach the said islands, you call together my royal Audiencia there; the honored prelates who shall be in Manila, and the