lock and so great an obstacle in these parts.

It has occurred to me to write this to your Reverences as a consolation
to many people who wish to know about affairs here. May God keep all
your Reverences, to whose holy sacrifices and prayers I earnestly
commend myself. Manila, June 14, 1620.

Compulsory Service by the Indians

_Opinion addressed to his Majesty by Fray Pedro de Sant Pablo,
preacher and provincial minister of the province of Sant Gregorio of
the discalced religious of the Philipinas Islands, of the Order of
the seraphic Father St. Francis, for the increase and conservation
of the said states of his Majesty, by reason of the building of ships
and repartimiento [17] for the service of his Majesty_.

The native Indians of the Philipinas Islands enjoyed great temporal
prosperity and peace until the year 1609, when Governor Don Juan de
Silva established in these islands the shipyards for constructing
the fleets that he built. For that purpose he imposed the very
burdensome taxes, and made repartimientos among the natives of the
said islands--not only personal, but for wine, oil, timber, and other
supplies and materials, in the greatest quantity. That has remained
and been established as a custom. Those materials and supplies
have been taken by some without payment, while others have paid the
fourth or third part of the just and current value. Hence his Majesty
owes them a great sum, but he cannot pay it, nor has he the money
to pay it in these islands. When personal services are commanded,
the Indian, in order not to go to the forests to cut and haul the
wood, subject to the cruel treatment of the Spaniard, incurred debt,
and borrowed some money at usury; and for the month falling to him,
he gave another Indian six or seven reals of eight at his own cost,
in order that the other should go in his stead. He who was taxed as
his share one-half arroba of oil went, if he did not have it from his
own harvest, to the rich man who gathered it; and, not having the
money wherewith to buy it, he became the other's slave or borrowed
the money at usurious rates. Thus, in the space of ten years, did the
country become in great measure ruined. Some natives took to the woods;
others were made slaves; many others were killed; and the rest were
exhausted and ruined: all of which is evident from the summary of the
account that I send his Majesty with the present. There can this truth
be seen and recognized. In orde