The prices which articles brought after the Spaniards introduced silver coins—­which are, as a rule, tostons, as the four-real pieces are called—­were as follows:  [four] [28] hundred gantas of rice [for one toston]; for another, a hundred of wine; and for another, twelve, fourteen, or sixteen fowls; and other things in proportion.  These rates continued until a year and a half or two years ago.  Then products began to be scarce in this country, and articles which were formerly cried through the streets have today reached so high prices and such scarcity that there is now no one who can obtain them, even when they go to search for them in the Indian villages.  For what is thus found the common prices are forty or fifty gantas of rice, or eight or ten gantas of wine, for one toston; fowls have advanced to two reals apiece, although the usual price is one real; while a hog costs four or five pesos, or six or eight for one of considerable size.  Oil of agenxoli [sesame], cocoanuts, and butter, which formerly could be bought very cheaply, cannot now be obtained—­although in this there is variation, as little or much comes to the market.

I have tried to ascertain the reason for so great a change, and for the dearness of food; and after thoroughly informing myself through persons who know, and through what I have seen with my own eyes, I find the following reasons therefor.  First:  When Don Goncalo Ronquillo came here as governor of La Pampanga, [29] whence all this country used to be supplied with rice, wine, and fowls, a great number of Indians went to the mines of Ylocos, where they remained during the time when they ought to have sowed their grain.  Many of them died there, and those who returned were so fatigued that they needed rest more than work.  As a result, in that year followed a very great scarcity of rice, and for lack of it a great number of Indians in the said Pampanga died from hunger.  In Luvao alone, the encomienda of Guido de la Vacares, the dead exceeded a thousand.

Second:  in regard to the many occupations in which the Spaniards employ the Indians, such as setting them to row in the galleys and fragatas despatched by the governor and officials on various commissions, which are never lacking.  At times they go so far away that they are absent four or six months; and many of those who go die there.  Others run away and hide in the mountains, to escape from the toils imposed upon them.  Others the Spaniards employ in cutting wood in the forests and conveying it to this city, and other Indians in other labors, so that they do not permit them to rest or to attend to their fields.  Consequently, they sow little and reap less, and have no opportunity to attend religious instruction.  It sometimes happens that while these miserable creatures are being instructed for baptism the Spaniards force them to go to the tasks that I have mentioned; and when they return they have forgotten what they knew; for this reason there are