f the trade of Macan had been
suppressed. For the greed of gain, which they are so well known to
possess, would have conquered everything, and they would come here;
since an outlet for the merchandise in which they trade in China must
be sought beneath the water. If the Chinese can know for only one year
that no ships have come from Macan to this city, it is certain that
they will come, and that beyond all doubt. Also the reestablishment of
the trade of the said Chinese will be effected; and, since there will
be great abundance in the goods which they trade, the customs duties
will amount to the sums which I have already stated. Consequently,
there will be a stop put to the loans, so numerous and usual, that
we are wont to require every year from the inhabitants in order to
supply the needs of the royal treasury; or at least the loans will
not be so large, since the said duties will be able to supply much.

The twelfth is that, as is well known, in the merchandise brought by
the Portuguese from the city of Macan to this of Manila, there are
no articles that can, with known reason, have an outlet with profits
or even without profits, in any other part, because of this--namely,
that what they take to Japon is only raw silk, which they call of
the first value, and the cream of that of China, whose products they
bring here. No other thing is used in Japon; and the skins which they
also carry, besides being in small quantity, are but little used by
the Japanese, according to their customs; so that all the rest which
the inhabitants of Macan buy is for conveyance to this city. If they
do not come here with it, then, it is certain that they will not buy
it. Consequently, the Chinese will come with it, for it is their trade,
and they have to procure an outlet and profit for their merchandise.

The thirteenth is that the efforts exerted by the said Portuguese of
Macan in preventing the commerce of the Chinese have been by as many
roads of state as they have been able to attempt. This came to such
a pass that a ship returning from this city to that of Macan, whence
it had come with merchandise, with some Portuguese aboard it, while
coasting along the Ilocan shore some two years ago, sighted two ships
of the Sangleys, which were coming from China laden with merchandise to
this city. The said ship from Macan attacked them while passing, and
chased them, the while discharging its artillery, with the intention
of pillaging and sinki