ice, that it moved me to great pity--and
all the more since I could see so little means to provide a remedy;
for although I wrote about it to the master-of-camp, who was at that
time lieutenant-governor, it profited me little.

As for the means of collecting this rice, the alcalde-mayor or his
deputy divides among the chiefs two, three, four, or more taes of gold
(which is a certain weight worth five pesos), and orders that so many
gantas of rice be collected for one toston. Afterward they send,
to collect this rice, men without piety; who, with blows, torture,
and imprisonment enforce compliance with the rate of three hundred
and fifty gantas for a toston; and, in other years, one hundred of
wine, and this year, sixty. It is a fact well established, for I have
learned from the very persons who collect it that it often happens,
that the Indian, not having so much rice as is demanded, is obliged to
go to buy at the rate of fifty gantas for a toston, and fifteen gantas
of wine; and from him, as is said, they take two hundred and fifty
of rice and seventy of wine for one toston. If this occurred only
with respect to rice, which is necessary for the expense which your
Majesty incurs in this city, it would be but half a wrong, although I
do not know what law permits them to invent one price for your Majesty
and another for others. However this may be, I will pass on. But the
real evil is that the governor, master-of-camp, alcaldes-mayor, your
Majesty's officials and other persons to whom these wish to give it,
all consume it at this same price, and they also collect it at this
price for the hospitals of the city. Although the governor, in the
orders which he gives for the hospitals and for other persons, such
as alcaldes-mayor, does not name the number of gantas to be given for
a toston, yet the rate is not higher than for your Majesty. He is at
fault, in that--knowing that they collect at this price--he neither
causes what has thus been taken to be restored, nor punishes him who
transgresses in this matter; thus many dare to take rice from them
at these same prices, knowing that they will not be punished. I know
that many alcaldes-mayor, having orders from the governor to buy from
the Indians of their districts three hundred fanegas from each single
man and five hundred from each married man, take it at the aforesaid
price, and even much more than they are permitted to take, and sell
it again at the current price. I know th