Inasmuch as the ships which are despatched with the said merchandise are at his Majesty’s account, and other ships cannot be sent, there is generally too small a place in the cargo for all the purchases.  For that reason the governor divides the cargo-room among all the shippers, according to their wealth and merits, after they have been examined by intelligent men, appointed for that purpose.  Consequently every man knows from his share how much he can export, and only that amount is received in the vessel; and careful and exact account is taken of it.  Trustworthy persons are appointed who are present at the lading; and space is left for the provisions and passengers that are to go in the vessels.  When the ships are laden and ready to sail, they are delivered to the general and the officials who have them in charge.  Then they start on their voyage at the end of the month of June, with the first vendavals.

This trade and commerce is so great and profitable, and easy to control—­for it only lasts three months in the year, from the time of the arrival of the ships with their merchandise, until those vessels that go to Nueva Espana take that merchandise—­that the Spaniards do not apply themselves to, or engage in, any other industry.  Consequently, there is no husbandry or field-labor worthy of consideration.  Neither do the Spaniards work the gold mines or placers, which are numerous.  They do not engage in many other industries that they could turn to with great profit, if the Chinese trade should fail them.  That trade has been very hurtful and prejudicial in this respect, as well as for the occupations and farm industries in which the natives used to engage.  Now the latter are abandoning and forgetting those labors.  Besides, there is the great harm and loss resulting from the immense amount of silver that passes annually by this way [of the trade], into the possession of infidels, which can never, by any way, return into the possession of the Spaniards.

His Majesty’s agents for the government and justice, and the royal officials for the management of his Majesty’s revenue, are as follows:  First, the governor and captain-general of all the islands, who is at the same time president of the royal Audiencia of Manila.  He has a salary of eight thousand pesos de minas per year for all his offices. [243] He possesses his own body-guard of twelve halberdiers, whose captain receives three hundred pesos per year.  The governor alone provides and regulates all that pertains to war and government, with the advice of the auditors of the Audiencia in difficult matters.  He tries in the first instance the criminal cases of the regular soldiers, and any appeals from his decisions go to the Audiencia. [244] The governor appoints many alcaldes-mayor, corregidors, deputies, and other magistrates, throughout the islands and their provinces, for carrying on the government and justice, and for military matters.  These appointments are made before a government chief scrivener appointed by his Majesty, who helps the governor.