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]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. [Vol. 48

begins by showing the necessity of navigation and
commerce for the maintenance of every nation,
which he illustrates from the history of the several
European nations, deploring the neglect of these industries by the Spaniards. The latter, notwithstanding the contrary claim made by the Dutch, are free
to navigate by way of Cape of Good Hope; and all
powers have an equal right to sail the high seas. Viana enumerates the advantages of the Cape Good
Hope route for commerce - convenience, promptness, saving of expense, a wider market for the commodities of both Spain and the Philippines, better
administration of the colony and stricter enforcement
of the laws. Moreover, the commerce of other European nations, especially that with Mexico, could
be greatly diminished, in favor of Spanish trade;
and the proceeds of the latter would remain among
the Spaniards, instead of being carried away to foreign lands and benefiting the enemies of Spain.
Viana here, as in many other passages, laments the
fatal indolence, negligence, and pride of his fellowcountrymen, which have prevented them from securing, as they might have done, the power and wealth
which other nations have attained. He enumerates
the valuable products of the islands, which ought to
be developed and made available; chief among these
are cinnamon and iron. Viana sets forth his project
for retrieving the condition of the islands by establishing a Spanish trading company. He relates the
great success, power, and wealth gained by the trading companies of the other nations; and urges that
Spain follow their example, and thus obtain a share
of those benefits and gains. Not least of these will be
the awakening of the Spaniards, especially the upper