ed, can anything be exported thither which they do not already
possess. They have an abundance of silks, and linen likewise, according
to report. Cloths, on account of the heat prevalent in the country,
they neither use nor value. Sugar exists in great abundance. Wax,
drugs, and cotton are super-abundant in the islands, whither the
Chinese go to obtain them by barter. And thus, to make a long matter
short, the commerce with that land must be carried on with silver,
which they value above all other things; and I am uncertain whether
your Majesty will consent to this on account of having to send it to
a foreign kingdom. I beg your Majesty to consider all these matters,
to inform me concerning them, and to give explicit orders to the
person in charge here so that no mistakes may be made.

The management of affairs here is attended with great difficulty,
especially concerning the people who shall go; for it is almost
necessary to force them to go. Also with regard to the ships, which
are taken wherever they can be found. Usually they are miserable
little vessels, which draw but little water, and cost almost as much
in employing them as a ship of six hundred toneladas--necessitating,
as they do, pilot, master, mate, and sailors. Nor is it possible
to get along with less, especially for the different watches,
for otherwise the vessels could not possibly be navigated. And,
inasmuch as it does not appear that the merchants are inclined to
buy and fit out ships with a cargo, I am not sure, if this business
is to go on at your Majesty's expense, whether it would not be wise
to have two ships of about five hundred toneladas constructed; and to
arrange that one of them should not return the same year it went, in
order to have time to collect thoroughly all the articles of barter;
but that it should return the following year, and another ship then
set forth from here. In this way, and in accordance with this plan,
after the first expedition a ship would sail from there every year,
while another would depart hence every year. One of them alone
would be sufficient to contain the people going to those islands,
and keep business progressing and increasing there, since there is
no regular expedition.

These ships bear one hundred and thirty-six marcos of gold for
your Majesty and some few gold jewels and other things, as your
Majesty will order confirmed by this memorandum which the general
sends. Likewise they carry almost two hundred