the payment of taxes.  Finally, a chapter on “the political and administrative organization of Filipinas” is presented, from Montero y Vidal’s Archipielago filipino (1886).  He devotes special attention to the subject of local government in the native towns; and explains why the Filipino natives are so anxious to obtain the post of gobernadorcillo.  The writer describes the mode of dress and the customs in vogue among these local dignitaries, as well as their methods of administration.  There are certain other petty officials, whose functions are described; and he ends by stating the powers and functions of the provincial rulers and those of the governor and captain-general of the islands, and sharply criticising “the vicious, anomalous, and unsuitable organization of the provinces of Filipinas.”

The Editors

July, 1904.

DOCUMENTS OF 1609

Laws regarding navigation and commerce.  Felipe II and Felipe III; 1583-1609.  Jesuit missions, 1608-09. (From Annuae litterae; Dilingae, 1610.) Decree regulating services of Filipinos.  Felipe III; May 26.

Sources:  Two of these documents are taken from Recopilacion de leyes—­the first from lib. ix, tit. xlv; the third, from lib. vi., tit. xii (ley xl).  The second is obtained from Annuae litterae (Dilingae, 1610), pp. 507-532.

Translations:  The first and third of these documents are translated by James A. Robertson; the second, by Henry B. Lathrop, of the University of Wisconsin.

LAWS REGARDING NAVIGATION AND COMMERCE

[The following laws are translated from Recopilacion de leyes, lib. ix, tit. xxxxv, “Concerning the navigation and commerce of the Filipinas Islands, China, Nueva Espana, and Peru.” [1] The various laws of the Recopilacion are not arranged chronologically, but they are here thus given—­retaining, however, the number of each law.  Those laws given in the present installment range in date between 1583 and 1609, those beyond the latter date being reserved for a future volume.  Some of the laws, as shown by various dates, were promulgated more than once, either in the original form, or possibly amended.  When there is more than one date, the chronological order follows the earliest of these.]

Law LVIII

The appraisements and registers that shall be made of the merchandise shipped in the vessels despatched from Filipinas to Nueva Espana and other places, shall be made solely by the officials of our royal exchequer.  The distribution [of cargo] that shall be made in the vessels of the said islands, and of the merchandise shipped on our account, and the appointment and examination of the pilots, masters, and other officials, shall be made in the presence of the aforesaid persons; and the laws ordained by this titulo shall be observed. [Felipe II—­San Lorenzo, June 14, 1583.]