these are involved in lawsuits.  Collection of tributes shall not be made by the alcaldes-mayor; and appointments for the post of collector must be approved by the Audiencia.  Various acts prescribe the duties of officials of the Audiencia, and its procedures in certain cases; also limits of action by attorneys.  The officials of the Audiencia shall give bonds each year.  Cases involving twenty pesos or less shall not be brought to trial.  Directions are given for the trial of suits between Indians.  The alguazils-mayor must make the rounds of the city at night.  All accounts due to or from the royal treasury shall be closed up and balanced within the next four months.  Officials of the Audiencia shall not go outside of the city without permission.  Certain punishments are prescribed for the Chinese inhabitants—­for vicious practices, for making or clipping coin, and for buying stolen goods from Indians.  All natives residing in Manila who have not some employment are ordered to leave the city at three days’ notice.  The duties of the late Alvaro Cambrano, deceased, are to be assumed by others of the auditors.  Provision is made for due inspection, appraisal, and sale of merchandise brought from China.  All Indians belonging to the royal encomiendas must pay their tributes, even when they reside in Manila.  The sum of three hundred pesos is appropriated to furnish and adorn the chapel of the Audiencia.  The Chinese are forbidden to have godchildren, a practice which has led to many evils; and the Christians are ordered to follow the occupations which they had exercised before their conversion.  Officials whose terms of office expire must furnish residencia before receiving any further appointment.

On July 3, 1599, one of the Franciscans in charge of the hospital for the Indians at Manila writes to the king, asking further grants of aid for its work.  The governor and bishop are directed by the king to advise him as to the needs of the hospital.  A letter from the royal fiscal to the king (July 21) displays the needs of the royal exchequer in the islands, and suggests means for supplying these.  He complains of the burden imposed on the colony by the support of an archbishop and three bishops.  Much is wasted in salaries, for useless or nominal services.  Salazar y Salzedo advises that the offices and their salaries be both reduced.  Especial loss and injury to the royal income arises from the frauds and violations of law which are practiced in the Mexican trade.  The payment of tributes by the Indians in money is demoralizing them; they no longer pursue their former usual labors, and their products are now scarce and high-priced.  They ought to be compelled to work, at agriculture, stock-raising, and mining.  The treasury needs more money, and more Indians should be assigned to the crown.  Encomiendas are fraudulently assigned by the governors.  The erection of wooden churches in the encomiendas is another source of useless expense; these should be built of stone or brick.