e
year of 30, with which I hope that the inhabitants will be somewhat
encouraged. May God look upon us favorably, so that these islands
may prosper for your Majesty, by my means; for as a faithful vassal
I surely desire that. [_In the margin_: "Seen."]

By a decree of December of the year 30, your Majesty orders me to
inform you whether it would be advisable to abolish the posts of
commander of the galleys, and of the lieutenant and accountant
for them: That of lieutenant is abolished. That of accountant,
was abolished from the past year. I wrote that I had cut off the
pay for it. Later, this year, the papers have been given into
the possession of the royal officials here. That is a very great
burden, in addition to the many that they have, as the visitor,
Don Francisco de Rojas, thought; and I assented to it. It is not
advisable that the post of commander of the galleys be abolished,
for there is no security here that they may not have to fight many
times with the galleys. Consequently, it is proper for them to have
a commander who may do it, and who knows how to do it. The saving
would be very little. The office is now held by Antonio Carreno de
Valdes, with whom your Majesty was saved six hundred pesos, which he
received as an allowance; and not more than two hundred are spent,
as the galleys have only eight hundred for wages. [_In the margin_:
"File it with those papers which led him to make this report."]

Your Majesty orders by another decree of the same date that I
inform you as to whether it will be advisable to abolish the post of
lieutenant-general of Pintados. In reply to that, I say that the pay
was cut off as soon as I reached this government, but the title is now
allowed; for it is advisable to have one who holds that authority in
those provinces, as they are very far from here. Hence it is given to
the alcalde-mayor and infantry captain who resides in Zibu, and who
does not enjoy more pay than that for the post captain. This is the
officer who goes out in the fleets against the Joloans, Camucones, and
Mindanaos. He orders in detail what is here decided upon in general. He
is on the watch in present emergencies, and if he did not have power
and authority to command the chief men of all those provinces, a
great part of the service of your Majesty would cease. Consequently,
it is not advisable that this office be abolished, and it is enough
to have cut off the pay of it. He who holds the office at present