d,
with great care.

From the Portuguese at Macan came a large vessel loaded with a quantity
of merchandise. Notwithstanding that the goods were excellent and
valuable, they were not better than those brought by the Sangleys--who,
having made so large profits during the last few years, bring now
everything of the best that their country produces. Over thirty vessels
have come here from that land, bringing so many people that, together
with those who were living here, there are over ten thousand Sangleys
now in this city. We have always received them very kindly, as ordered
by your Majesty; and they are so friendly to the Spaniards that the
"San Martin," which sailed from Nueva Spana for Macan, on arriving at
the province of Chincheo, which is in the country of those Sangleys,
was very warmly received, and they expressed much pleasure at seeing
the Spaniards in their country. The Sangleys offered to load the
vessel with anything that the Spaniards wanted; but the latter,
thinking that they would do a larger business at Macan, where the
Portuguese are in the habit of trading, did not accept the offer;
they were supplied with all the provisions that they desired, with
much show of friendship and kindness, after which they sailed for
Macan. Near that place, the vessel was lost during a heavy gale which
it encountered--not, however, until all the people and money were
saved. Nothing was lost, as your Majesty will have been notified at
greater length through some other source.

The friars of the order of St. Dominic, whom your Majesty was kind
enough to send to this country last year, have begun to gather much
fruit here, in certain houses that they maintain outside of this city,
in which they minister to the natives. They have also established
another house in the city, where they are striving earnestly for the
conversion of the Sangleys, and have even begun to preach to them
in the Chinese language. It is understood that the Sangleys are very
docile and well-meaning people; and it is expected that the preaching
will attain to great results among them. May our Lord bring them to
a knowledge of the truth, and may He allow us to see your Majesty
master of everything.

The religious came to these regions firmly resolved to live in poverty,
as do the discalced Franciscan fathers, and to live by charity; but
finding that alms were scarce, and that there was extreme poverty
in the convents which are established here, they have