to explore it; but that must be ordered again.  A man of experience should be sent, so that he may display the prudence and make the exploration requisite, in accordance with the art and science of hydrography; and likewise so that he may live in Manila and examine the pilots of that line, and make faithful and accurate sea-charts.  For that purpose I shall give him considerable enlightenment by giving him the documents on the demarcations, and the information that I possess, on which I have labored much in order to serve your Highness.  Nowhere does your Highness need a cosmographer so much as in that land, for many things that arise and may arise.

Item:  A plan occurs to me whereby the ships that have to sail in that line may cost your Highness less than half, and a vessel last twice as long, compared with those that are built in Filipinas.  Likewise the Indian natives would be saved many hardships and annoyances in the cutting of timber, which they have to do for the building of the ships.  This consists in the governor going from Manila to Vengala and Cuchin in India to buy the ships; for they sell them there made from an incorruptible wood together with a quantity of extra rigging made of cayro, [101] which is better than that of hemp.  With the rigging alone that can be imported from there, the cost of the ship can be saved.  Thence Lascar sailors can be brought, who are cheaper and are very good seamen.  All the Portuguese of those parts use them in navigating, and they are very needful in the Filipinas.  They will come very willingly and will save your Highness a considerable sum.  For that it is necessary to send orders to your viceroy of Goa, and to the chief commandant of Malaca, to protect the Lascars who shall go thither, and not to harm them.

Item:  Your Highness granted a concession to the city of Manila of a decree ordering your governor Don Pedro de Acuna to assign to the cabildo of the said city seats in the cathedral, as was befitting the chief municipal body of that kingdom.  As yet these have not been assigned, because the wives of the auditors sit inside the principal chapel, where the said cabildo generally sat—­that is, opposite the seats of the auditors and governor.

I petition your Highness to have the said seats assigned, and to order the wives of the said auditors to sit elsewhere, since in none of the Yndias do the latter sit in the principal chapel, thus depriving the said cabildo of their seats.

Item:  The royal magazines have very few muskets and arquebuses for the defense of that kingdom.  I petition your Highness to be pleased to have a quantity of arms sent, and also to order that they be distributed among the citizens; and that the latter pay those who give them those muskets and arquebuses the price that your Highness shall have paid for them there, and the costs [of transportation].