as most of them are soldiers, they neglect their military duties,
lose their courage, and have become vicious and demoralized. Rojas
urges that they be restrained from engaging in traffic, leaving the
islands, or transferring their encomiendas to the crown. A seminary
for girls should be established at Manila, and young women from
Spain should be encouraged and aided to come to the islands. The
gold obtained in the Philippines should be sent to Mexico, and a
specified sum of money, in coin, should be sent thence to the islands
each year. Rojas recommends that Bishop Salazar be made governor,
and praises his qualifications for that office; next to the bishop,
the auditor Ayala would be most suitable.

Juan Moron, a military officer, sends (June 30) a report of his
expedition to Maluco with troops to succor the Spanish fort there. He
urges that a stone fort be erected for the defense of Manila, and
that some encomiendas of Indians be granted for the support of the
municipal government; and commends the envoy Sánchez.

A group of documents which contain "measures regarding trade with
China" (1586-90) throws much light on economic conditions in the
Spanish colonies at that time. The first of these (dated June 17,
1586), although unsigned, is apparently written by a member of the
royal Council of the Indias. He cites letters from several Spanish
officials of high standing, to show that the Philippine-Chinese trade
is injuring that of the mother-country and of Mexico; and the complaint
is again made that Spanish money is continually flowing into China,
thus depleting the wealth of the colonies. The writer recommends that
the latter be forbidden to import Chinese goods; and that the viceroy
of Nueva España be directed to take measures to accomplish this. Two
days later, a decree to this effect is signed by the king. Extracts