gilt articles and curiosities; jewels of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, topazes, balas-rubies, and other precious stones, both set and loose; many trinkets and ornaments from India; wine, raisins, and almonds; delicious preserves, and other fruits brought from Portugal and prepared in Goa; carpets and tapestries from Persia and Turquia, made of fine silks and wools; beds, writing-cases, parlor-chairs, and other finely-gilded furniture, made in Macao; needle-work in colors and in white, of chain-lace and royal point lace, and other fancy-work of great beauty and perfection.  Purchases of all the above are made in Manila, and paid in reals and gold.  The vessels return in January with the brisas, which is their favorable monsoon.  They carry to Maluco provisions of rice and wine, crockery-ware, and other wares needed there; while to Malaca they take only the gold or money, besides a few special trinkets and curiosities from Espana, and emeralds.  The royal duties are not collected from these vessels.

A few smaller vessels also sail from Borneo, during the vendavals.  They belong to the natives of that island, and return during the first part of the brisas.  They enter the river of Manila and sell their cargoes in their vessels.  These consist of fine and well-made palm-mats, a few slaves for the natives, sago—­a certain food of theirs prepared from the pith of palms—­and tibors; large and small jars, glazed black and very fine, which are of great service and use; and excellent camphor, which is produced on that island.  Although beautiful diamonds are found on the opposite coast, they are not taken to Manila by those vessels, for the Portuguese of Malaca trade for them on that coast.  These articles from Borneo are bought more largely by the natives than by the Spaniards.  The articles taken back by the Borneans are provisions of wine and rice, cotton cloth, and other wares of the islands, which are wanting in Borneo.

Very seldom a few vessels sail to Manila from Sian and Camboja.  They carry some benzoin, pepper, ivory, and cotton cloth; rubies and sapphires, badly cut and set; a few slaves; rhinoceros horns, and the hides, hoofs, and teeth of this animal; and other goods.  In return they take the wares found in Manila.  Their coming and return is between the brisas and the vendavals, during the months of April, May, and June.

In these classes of merchandise, and in the products of the islands—­namely, gold, cotton cloth, mendrinaque, and cakes of white and yellow wax—­do the Spaniards effect their purchases, investments, and exports for Nueva Espana.  They make these as is most suitable for each person, and lade them on the vessels that are to make the voyage.  They value and register these goods, for they pay into the royal treasury of Manila, before the voyage, the two per cent royal duties on exports, besides the freight charges of the vessel, which amount to forty Castilian ducados [241] per tonelada.  This latter is paid at the port of Acapulco in Nueva Espana, into the royal treasury of the said port, in addition to the ten per cent duties for entrance and first sale in Nueva Espana. [242]