heirs; and, if after being appraised, one of them retains
a slave, he should pay the other heirs for their share: therefore,
because the said opinion seemed a fair method of procedure, they
ordered, and they did so order, the said alcalde-mayor of Pampanga,
now and henceforth, to take particular care in such cases to observe
the said plan--so that such slaves shall not have so many owners,
nor endure, or be vexed with, the service of so many masters, whom
they cannot serve without considerable trouble. It often happens
that they run away from their masters, or are ill-treated and not
supplied with food and other things necessary to their life. The said
alcalde-mayor shall be advised to execute and enforce the tenor of this
act, being warned that, if he shall not do so, vigorous proceedings
will be instituted against him. By this act, they so voted, ordered,
and decreed, providing that this act be entered in the books of this
royal Audiencia.

_Doctor Antonio de Morga_
The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_
The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_

Before me:

_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_An act decreeing a proper regulation of supplies_.

In the city of Manila, on the fifteenth day of the month of October,
one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, the president and auditors
of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands, being assembled,
declared that at present there is a great lack of provisions in this
city, and that those that are to be had are so high-priced, that there
is general suffering. It is thought that, unless this be regulated,
the trouble will increase in the future.

_Buffalo meat_. Therefore they ordered that a contract should be made
with ten Indian arquebusiers, from among those who have permission to
hunt, so that what buffaloes they kill shall be brought for public
sale at the city slaughter-house; and there shall be there every
day the meat of at least one buffalo, which is to be weighed out and
distributed to the citizens.

_The natives and Sangleys must raise fowl and swine. Item_: They voted
and ordered that, now and henceforth, all the natives of these islands,
and the Sangley gardeners who reside therein, shall raise fowl and
swine, as they are ordered, under penalty of a fine of four reals
apiece--three of these to be applied to the use of the hospitals
of this city, and one to the alguazil-mayor or judge who executes
this decree. To that end, the necessary orders shall be despatched,
directe