ceased, and that the king was proving more humane; but the fact is that it is advisable to prohibit (so that what the provincials for the present are applying as the suitable remedy may have the desired effect) all religious from passing to the said kingdom.  For, besides the little or no result that they obtain, that trade is shut to these islands for that reason; and that is what we ought most to desire, and what is of greatest importance to your Majesty’s service and to the conversion of Japon itself.

By virtue of your Majesty’s decree in which you are pleased to grant authority to those governors to take the residencia of their predecessors, because of the inconvenience experienced in their going away without giving it, the decree was presented to me in behalf of Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora, deceased.  By virtue of it I have taken his residencia, and send the same to your Majesty.  I have not discovered that there is any charge to make against him, as he has lived honorably, and in the praiseworthy manner that his obligations demanded.

The Sangleys celebrate their festival, according to their custom, every year in the month of March, in their Parian.  They are very fond of gambling, and, by the advice of all the orders, they are permitted to play during their pastimes.  The money given by the winners has been distributed among the servants of the governors, because they do not have any means of livelihood, and because the obligation of the charge is so great that the pay is scarcely able to support them decently.  But I have distributed this money among the retired captains, the poor, the widows, and worthy men who suffer necessity.  The Order of St. Dominic is the only one that dissents from the opinions of the orders.

When the Audiencia was governing, there was a change in the method of collecting the licenses of the Sangleys; but it resulted in so much loss that, as has been found by experience, this [year’s] collection has exceeded by many thousand [pesos] the collections made last year.

They have tried to establish the same policy in the inspection of the Sangley ships, contrary to all good government; for it is fitting that those people have many to protect them, as I tell more at length in the section treating of the licenses given by the alcalde-mayor of Tondo.  In no year have they been less humbled than in this.

The wheat used by the inhabitants comes from China, because these islands do not grow it.  Consequently, the common sustenance is rice.  Formerly, as a policy of good government, the past governors assigned a place where the bread ovens were gathered together, and prohibited the baking of bread in any other place.  In order to make this bread near at hand, the city made a contract with Captain Andres Fernandez de Puebla, so that it might be made on a site belonging to him—­with the provision that he, spending in the building what then seemed sufficient, should enjoy half of the income of the said ovens, while the other half should remain for the city.  All the governors have confirmed this, as it appeared of utility to the community.  This is what I have to inform you of, according to your Majesty’s orders in your royal decree.