The commerce with the Sangleys has always been considered very important for the supplies and trade not only of this city, but of those who come here to invest their money, and for what is expected from it in the future.  For it might be that by this means we shall get a foothold in that great realm, which of all things is so much desired.  This trade has been so harassed and injured this year that we are in great dread lest those who come here, or many of them, will not return, or that they will not be willing to sell their merchandise at former prices, because of the bad treatment that they have received and the lack of order here.

During the past year and the present one the ill feeling has increased, because at first they paid nothing; but later anchorage dues were levied upon them—­more by way of securing acknowledgment than for gain; while last year and this they have demanded three per cent from the Sangleys, from which many injuries to the latter have resulted.  The first is, that they all were ordered to live apart, in one fenced-in dwelling made this year, whither they have gone very unwillingly.  There the shops have made them pay higher prices than goods would cost them outside.  A warden has been appointed for them, with judicial authority to punish them; and, according to report, many wrongs and injuries are inflicted upon them.  Indeed, for very trivial causes they are put in the stocks, and pecuniary fines exacted from them.  Sometimes they have been fined for going outside at night to ease the body, or for not keeping their place clean.

Under the pretext that they must pay taxes to your Majesty, a penalty was imposed upon the sale of any article without its previous registration; but at the time of this registration the best of their merchandise was taken from them, and that at the price which the inspector or the registrar chose to set.  Some pieces of silk were therefore hidden by the Sangleys, either to sell them to better advantage or to give them to persons to whom the goods had been promised.  For this they were punished with as much rigor as if the penalty had been required from them for many years, instead of being, on the contrary, only the first or second time when they had heard of it.  Among other things, I know that because a Chinese merchant sentenced him to one hundred lashes and a fine of seventy-five tostons.  A brother of his came to me to ask protection for him, and at my request they remitted the lashes; but he paid the tostons before he could leave the jail.  Of these and of other wrongs to individuals so many cases occur that I have been greatly troubled.  For some would take the goods from the Sangleys by force, and keep them; others would not give them what the goods were worth; others would give them written orders [Span. cedulas] [35] (which are much in use among them), and afterward repudiate these.  Thereupon they would hasten to me; and, as I could not secure reparation for these