The Holy Office of the Inquisition, residing in Mexico of Nueva Espana, has its commissaries, servants, and helpers in Manila and in the bishoprics of the islands, who attend to matters touching the Holy Office.  They never fail to have plenty to do there because of the entrance of so many strangers into those districts.  However, this holy tribunal does not have jurisdiction of the causes pertaining to the natives, as the latter are so recently converted.

All these islands are subdued, and are governed from Manila by means of alcaldes-mayor, corregidors, and lieutenants, each of whom rules and administers justice in his own district and province.  Appeals from their acts and sentences go to the royal Audiencia.  The governor and captain-general provides what pertains to government and war.

The chiefs, who formerly held the other natives in subjection, now have no power over them in the tyrannical manner of former days.  This was not the least benefit received by these natives in having been freed from such servitude.  However, it is true that matters touching the slavery of former days have remained on the same footing as before.  The king our sovereign has ordered by his decrees that the honors of the chiefs be preserved to them as such; and that the other natives recognize them and assist them with certain of the labors that they used to give when pagans.  This is done with the lords and possessors of barangays, and those belonging to such and such a barangay are under that chief’s control.  When he harvests his rice, they go one day to help him; and the same if he builds a house, or rebuilds one.  This chief lord of a barangay collects tribute from his adherents, and takes charge of these collections, to pay them to the encomendero. [200]

Besides the above, each village has a governor [201] who is elected.  He and his constables who are called vilangos [202] comprise the usual magistracy among the natives.  The governor hears civil suits where a moderate sum is involved; in appeal, the case goes to the corregidor or alcalde-mayor of the province.  These governors are elected annually by the votes of all the married natives of such and such a village.  The governor of Manila confirms the election, and gives the title of governor to the one elected, and orders him to take the residencia of the outgoing governor. [203] This governor, in addition to the vilangos and scrivener (before whom he makes his acts in writing, in the language of the natives of that province), [204] holds also the chiefs—­lords of barangays, and those who are not so—­under his rule and government, and, for any special service, such as collections of tributes, and assignments of personal services, as his datos and mandones. [205] They do not allow the chiefs to oppress the timaguas or slaves under their control.

The same customs observed by these natives in their paganism, are observed by them since they have become Christians, in so far as they are not contrary to natural law, especially as to their slavery, successions, inheritances, adoptions, wills, and lawful trading.  In their suits, they always allege and prove the custom, and are judged by it, according to royal decrees to that effect.  In other causes which do not involve their customs, and in criminal cases, the matter is determined by law as among Spaniards.