The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 44]

1700-1736] COMMERCE OF PHILIPPINES

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lations, the product of which is hardly enough to pay
the expenses on them-duties, freight-charges, and
carriers' fees - the poorer citizens will see themselves forced to seek some other way [to make a
living]. That means the desertion of these islands
for India, and consequently a great diminution in
the number of your Majesty's vassals; and the
islands will be exposed to the invasions of the Dutch
and other enemies of your royal crown and of the
natives. No few of these invasions have been experienced in recent years, and at this time we are being
raided by the Mindanaos, the Joloans, and the Burneyans. And I can assure your Majesty that in the
space of less than twelve years I have seen this
stage"S of the citizens of Manila changed five times.
For, as it is composed of some who come from
Europe (and they count for many), and of others
who come from Nueva Espaina, on account of the
difference of the climate from that in which they
were born they do not remain long; both classes,
seeing the little comfort that they can find here, and
how small incentive there is from riches (which is
that which most influences those who do not possess
enormous estates), either die in a short time, worn
out with the misery of this country; or they leave the
islands, to look for a more comfortable residence.
Thus it comes to pass that only we religious and
other ecclesiastics remain, with some persons who
belong to the richer class (who are few), and these
are Europeans, whom affection for their native land
is always drawing away. If this [which I have mentioned above] happens (which may God not per86 Spanish, theatro; that is, the personnel of the Spanish body
of citizens.