There are three conditions of persons among the natives of these islands, and into which their government is divided:  the chiefs, of whom we have already treated; the timaguas, who are equivalent to plebeians; and slaves, those of both chiefs and timaguas.

The slaves were of several classes.  Some were for all kinds of work and slavery, like those which we ourselves hold.  Such are called saguiguilires; [144] they served inside the house, as did likewise the children born of them.  There are others who live in their own houses with their families, outside the house of their lord; and come, at the season, to aid him in his sowings and harvests, among his rowers when he embarks, in the construction of his house when it is being built, and to serve in his house when there are guests of distinction.  These are bound to come to their lord’s house whenever he summons them, and to serve in these offices without any pay or stipend.  These slaves are called namamahays, [145] and their children and descendants are slaves of the same class.  From these slaves—­saguiguilirs and namamahays—­are issue, some of whom are whole slaves, some of whom are half slaves, and still others one-fourth slaves.  It happens thus:  if either the father or the mother was free, and they had an only child, he was half free and half slave.  If they had more than one child, they were divided as follows:  the first follows the condition of the father, free or slave; the second that of the mother.  If there were an odd number of children, the last was half free and half slave.  Those who descended from these, if children of a free mother or father, were only one-fourth slaves, because of being children of a free father or mother and of a half-slave.  These half slaves or one-fourth slaves, whether saguiguilirs or namamahays, served their masters during every other moon; and in this respect so is such condition slavery.

In the same way, it may happen in divisions between heirs that a slave will fall to several, and serves each one for the time that is due him.  When the slave is not wholly slave, but half or fourth, he has the right, because of that part that is free, to compel his master to emancipate him for a just price.  This price is appraised and regulated for persons according to the quality of their slavery, whether it be saguiguilir or namamahay, half slave or quarter slave.  But, if he is wholly slave, the master cannot be compelled to ransom or emancipate him for any price.

The usual price of a sanguiguilir slave among the natives is, at most, generally ten taes of good gold, or eighty pesos; if he is namamahay, half of that sum.  The others are in the same proportion, taking into consideration the person and his age.