The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 326 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 326 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55.
pursuit].  No Spaniard was killed, although many were wounded.”  Encan is “hanged and quartered, his head exposed on the site of the Parian, and his goods confiscated; and in the days following, justice gave the same punishment to other guilty Chinese.”  The insurrection costs the lives of more than twenty-three thousand Chinese and only five hundred are left for the galleys.  “Some say that the number of Sangleys killed was greater, but in order that the illegality in admitting so many into the country contrary to royal prohibitions might not be seen, the officials concealed or diminished the numbers of those that perished.”]

Don Pedro had had some advices of how well affected his Majesty was to the enterprise of Maluco.  Awaiting the effects of that decision, he wrote by all the ways possible; and by India, to solicit those who had charge of the matter.  Relieved from the hindrance caused by the Sangleys, he turned his mind to the preparation and equipment of the fleet, for the time when he should be ordered to set out.  But the end of this war was the beginning of other needs for Manila.  Mechanical trades were stopped, and there was no work or provisions.  Prices of food increased with their lack.  All supplies had been formerly in great abundance, and were obtained through the Sangleys, for the Indian natives lack the willingness and the energy for such work.  The cultivation of the land, the care of raising fowls, the weaving of cloth, all of which industries they had exercised in their old days of infidelity, they had forgotten.  Especially was the Parian or Alcayceria wasted by fire and sword.  It was once so full of gain and abundance that Don Pedro wrote to one of his relatives in Espana, a short time after his arrival at Manila, these following words of it:  “This city is remarkable for the size of its buildings, which have surprised me.  I shall mention only one, which is the chief one.  It has an Alcayceria that contains all kinds of silks and gold, and mechanical trades; and for these things there are more than four hundred shops, and generally more than eight thousand men who trade therein.  When the trading fleets come from China with their merchandise, which is the present time of the year, there are always more than thirteen or fourteen thousand men.  They bring wonderful things, that are not found in Europa.”  Besides this, Don Pedro feared that the chastisement inflicted in the slaughter would discourage the intercourse of the Sangleys with us, and that the vessels that were wont to come from China with food would not come.  Greater and universal was the fear that in place of trading ships, armed vessels would come to avenge the Sangleys.  Don Pedro sent the prior of Manila, Fray Diego de Guevara, to Espana by way of India, with advices of the deed and of his fears.  The incidents that befell him on his voyage in India itself, and in Persia, Turquia, and Italia, forced him to delay three years before he could reach the court, where he found other despatches already arrived.

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.