ess and occupations, it
seems to me that prohibition should be made to them to engage in the
search of gold during some season of the year, so as to give all other
business, profitable to the island, an opportunity to be established and
carried on.

Likewise, that as far as the business of discovering other lands is
concerned,[276-1] it is my opinion that permission to do so should be
given to everyone who desires to embark in it, and that some liberality
should be shown in reducing the fifth to be given away, so as to
encourage as many as possible for entering into such undertakings.

And now I shall set forth my opinion as to the manner of sending vessels
to the said Spanish Island, and the regulation of this subject which must
be made, which is as follows: That no vessels should be allowed to unload
their cargoes except at one or two ports designated for that purpose, and
that a record should be made of all that they carry and unload; and that
no vessels should be allowed either to leave the island except from the
same ports, after a record has been made also of all that they have taken
on board, so that nothing can be concealed.

Likewise, in regard to the gold to be brought from the island to Castile,
that the whole of it, whether belonging to your Highnesses or to some
private individual, must be kept in a chest, with two keys, one to be
kept by the master of the vessel and the other by some person chosen by
the governor and the treasurer, and that an official record must be made
of everything put in the said chest, in order that each one may have
what is his, and that any other gold, much or little, found outside of
the said chest in any manner be forfeited to the benefit of your
Highnesses, so as to cause the transaction to be made faithfully.

Likewise, that all vessels coming from the said island must come to
unload to the port of Cadiz, and that no person shall be allowed to leave
the vessels or get in them until such person or persons of the said city
as may be appointed for this purpose by your Highnesses go on board the
same vessels, to whom the masters must declare all that they have
brought, and show the statement of everything they have in the cargoes,
so that it may be seen and proved whether the said ships have brought
anything hidden and not declared in the manifests at the time of
shipment.

Likewise, that in the presence of the Justice of the said city of Cadiz
and of whosoever may be deputed