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. 48]

1751-1765] VIANA'S MEMORIAL 225
thousand men may always be maintained. They can
easily be recruited in Nueva Espana, and [sent over]
by every ship to replace those who may die; for we
have learned by experience that the Americans, if
they are well disciplined, are remarkably well fitted
for soldiers. They are barbarians in courage, and
are daring and resolute; they fling themselves into
the greatest danger as joyously as into a dance; and
whether on the march or in guard duty, in heat or in
rain, and in the most distressing fatigues, they are
always gay, contented, and good-humored. With
the same aspect they endure poor food, a scanty supper, a hard bed; and, finally, they are very obedient,
and their virile powers are quite spent [son de potencias mui despejadas] usually-so much so that on
this account they usually have all the vices which are
natural to man. But strict discipline and punishment are a great restraint on them; and, with the
example of four or five hundred veteran soldiers who
might come from Espafia, a very respectable military
force could be trained here-with the additional
consideration that they are better able than are the
Europeans to endure heat and rain, and other hardships, which ruin the latter and make no impression
on the former. But it is indispensable that some officers of rank should come from Espana, to lay good
foundations for this edifice, for in no other way can
it be permanent.
12. In order that this force may serve willingly,
and be reliable, it is necessary to increase their pay.
It is impossible to have good officers unless they have
sufficient pay to support themselves decently, and it
is certain that they do not have it; the same thing is
true of the soldiers, relatively; and on this account it