The Indians of all these islands are willing to contribute annually to his Majesty all the aid that may be necessary, and what they are able to contribute, for the defense and conservation of these islands, the building of ships, and all other things needful, in the following manner.  Every household and family will give, each year, such a sum as may be ordered and as shall appear necessary, in this manner.  The Indians living at Manila, inasmuch as they have more property and money, will give one or two pesos per house; and those more remote the half or third part of that sum, or the fraction that shall seem advisable, inasmuch as they are less established and are very poor.  This sum shall be collected and placed in one depository, which shall be in common for all the islands, and shall be in charge of a faithful person; and it shall have three keys.  This money having been collected, whenever his Majesty may need one, two, or three vessels, more or less, in these islands, and shall choose either to buy them in India or to build and construct them in these islands, he needs fifty thousand pesos for that purpose.  After first taking from his royal chest and treasury the usual sum, the balance and remainder—­which is generally levied from the Indians at very low rates, or without paying them at all—­let him get from that chest of the common fund of the Indians.  Then the sum given by his Majesty and the aid furnished by the Indians can be put together, and those boats built or bought without making repartimientos among the communities of the Indians.  If common seamen be needed, then a proclamation can be issued to see if there are any volunteers who will sign the register; and surely there will be many, as usual.  The number lacking [to serve as volunteers] shall be paid from that fund [i.e., the natives’ chest] and from what his Majesty usually gives them.  The same shall be done if soldiers are needed for Terrenate, or rice and any other supplies.  Thus will everything necessary be provided, and that without delay; and the country will not be harassed or the Indians afflicted.

Supposing that from the sum given this year by the Indians, there should be a surplus, because of no war or shipbuilding, then that sum would be kept, and the following year there would be no repartimiento nor would the amount be again collected.  And supposing that the sum that was collected should be insufficient because of the many expenses of that year, then the Indians would be again asked for what should seem necessary.  If this were done with due system and method in using the chest, and in a Christian spirit, each Indian would be saved, besides his discomforts, persecutions, and afflictions, more than fifteen or twenty pesos; his Majesty would be served better; and many mortal sins committed by the officials—­who rob the Indians on one side, and on the other defraud his Majesty’s treasury—­would be avoided; for (as has been experienced) the alcaldes-mayor or