not
returned. Some Chinese who have come from there say that the ship
has been captured by Portuguese, and sent to India. I can scarcely
maintain my position for the lack of ammunition, which is great--and
greater than ever just at the present time, for twenty-two Chinese
ships have come, without bringing a libra of copper, of saltpeter,
or of powder; and they say that under peril of their lives they had
been forced to dispose of them. They say the same of horses and black
cattle. As for the affairs of this city, the need of thorough equipment
is very great, for it has almost nothing, not even a prison; and that
under an Audiencia, as your Majesty will see by that report. Neither
are there any fortifications, so I have devoted myself to providing
for what is most necessary, namely, safety. I began the walls at the
point, where a fort was being built. I have made it with its curtains
and traverses, placing the traverses symmetrically as regards one
another. It is one and one-half estados from the ground, and the
foundation is of the same depth. It is from sixteen to twelve and
eight feet wide on top, according to the plan. The creek of the sea
stretches up to the fort, in all about one thousand brazas in length;
and while it would not do more, it will serve as a very good trench. On
account of this fort and wall I have increased the import duty here on
all articles from China, such as pepper and other things. Likewise,
playing-cards were seized in your Majesty's name. With this the work
was begun, but was about to stop for lack of funds; and, assuming that
your Majesty does not possess them, and orders me also to fortify
this city and be responsible for order in it, it seemed best to me
to levy a tax for this purpose on the property of all those from
different places who were settled here, and on the inhabitants in
general. This I did, charging two per cent, in consideration of the
many and great profits. Inasmuch as this affected the property of
the president, the auditors, the bishop, the clergy, and those in
benefices, they immediately held secret meetings and declared that
I was incurring the censure of the bull of the Lord's Supper. As is
a very common proceeding for the bishop and the Dominican friars,
because I will not let them go to Espana to seek many things from
your Majesty "very important to the welfare of these islands," I am
now excommunicated; the Franciscans are now saying the same thing
because I have