The bishop then describes the status of the Chinese traders who come to the Philippine Islands.  Vexatious dues have been levied upon the Chinese in Manila; they have been herded together in one dwelling, apart from the other residents of the city; and a special warden, with arbitrary power, has been placed over them.  Besides, they have been compelled to sell their goods at much below their value, and have frequently been plundered; and reparation for their wrongs has been denied.  As a consequence, Chinese goods have almost disappeared from the market, and the few articles seen are sold at exorbitant prices.  Other traders who come to Manila are also burdened with numerous unjust and arbitrary exactions.

Salazar complains that the Spaniards enslave the Indians, and, despite all remonstrances made by the priests and friars, refuse to liberate their slaves.  The natives are oppressed by the officials, and are at the mercy of lawless, because unpaid, soldiers.  The encomenderos refuse to pay tithes, and the royal officials say that they have no instructions to pay the bishop; he is thus greatly straitened in means, and can do but little to aid the unfortunate natives or the poor Spaniards.  The governor proposes to levy an additional tribute on the Indians; the clergy and the friars hold a conference regarding this matter, and decide that it may reasonably be levied, in order to support the expenses of protecting the natives from their enemies, and of instructing them in the true religion.  Nevertheless, the bishop advises that no additional tribute be imposed until the king shall have opportunity to examine the question, and order such action as he deems best.  The soldiers in the Philippines have left behind them (in Spain, Mexico, and elsewhere) families whom they have practically abandoned for many years.  Salazar desires the king to order that these men be sent back to their homes, or obliged to bring their families to the islands.  Again he recurs to the wretched condition of the natives, and asks that suitable provision be made for an official “protector of the Indians;” and that to this post, now temporarily filled, the bishop may have the right of nomination.  He also asks that to the city of Manila be granted an encomienda, to provide means for conducting municipal affairs and meeting necessary expenses.  He recommends a reward for Ensign Francisco de Duenas, who has just returned from an important mission to Ternate—­whither he went with official announcement of the transfer of the Portuguese settlement there to the Spanish crown, which is peaceably accomplished.  The Franciscan missionaries who went to China have been brought back to the islands by the governor, who forbids them to go away again without his permission.  The bishop intercedes for them with Penalosa, but in vain.  This is but an instance of the frequent conflicts between the bishop and the civil authorities, who hinder rather than aid his efforts.  Salazar closes his letter with advice to the king as to the officials who ought to be sent to these islands.