as token of recognition of authority; and that
three-quarters of the tribute is not a small part. He does not take
into consideration that your Majesty does not treat therein of the
encomiendas pacified, and under administration of justice, order,
and other benefits, but of those never subdued or rebellious. The
difficulties which I encounter in the execution of his projects he
passes over with some generalities, as that God will preserve the
faith which He has planted here; and that the encomendero will have
enough for his support from the share assigned him--namely, the third
of the large encomiendas and the half of the smaller. He also claims
that the encomenderos will not abandon the encomiendas, as they are
not deprived of all, but of only a part of them--and that only for the
brief period until your Majesty declares what is to be done (and this
period will be very brief); and it is to be noted that this declaration
will be, beyond doubt, that the encomenderos and your Majesty shall
not collect the tributes. The time intervening until the declaration
comes from your Majesty seems to him short. As to leaving things as
at present and collecting the tribute without any innovation therein,
until after your Majesty has been consulted, the time appears to
him long; and he thinks that orders and corrections will never cease
coming from Espana, and that instruction will never be obtained in
this manner. He enjoins upon me, the city, and the encomenderos to
make every endeavor and use all diligence to supplicate your Majesty
for said instruction. He declares frankly that if the infidels do not
become baptized because they see that tribute is levied after such
baptism, it is of no account that such are not converted. He supports
himself by the reasons given in his letter, which are characteristic of
one who does not have at heart the perpetuity and preservation of this
state; and who does not see, in the distant future, the trouble which
its loss might cause. He declares, moreover, that even though I should
wish to do so I could not correct the excesses of the encomenderos and
the injury which they inflict on the Indians. For the latter there are
punishments, but none for the Spaniards. To establish more justice in
the land would be to ruin it, as the officials do not do their duty,
but rob the Indians. At this, the bishop returns to the subject of
the restitutions in which he becomes engrossed; and declares that
he is finis