1The great length of this document obliges us to summarize passages of lesser importance; but as much of the author’s exact language has been retained as possible.↑2Bernaldez refers to the massacre of foreigners in 1820, and the mutiny under Novales in 1823, both of which are related in the first document of this volume.↑3In theArchivo general de Indiasat Sevilla is a MS. map, drawn (June 20, 1773) by the government engineer at Manila, Miguel A. Gomez, showing “portion of the site on the river of Tanay, indicating the plan of the iron-works for casting anchors and artillery, and the shop for casting the small iron articles which are called in the Philippine archipelagocauas—which are equivalent to kettles, boilers, and frying-pans, and which the Chinese or Sangleys manufacture with so great skill and dexterity.” Gomez estimated that this establishment would cost “at least 175,000 pesos, without reckoning the cost of the dwelling-houses” for officials, artisans, and laborers.↑4The native name for the annotto (Bixa orellana), the seeds of which produce a yellow substance used for coloring cheese, butter, etc.↑5Polizon: “a person who embarks by stealth and without a passport, in the ships which sail to America.” (Dominguez.)↑6“The association of the Audiencia with the governor began in 1527, with Cortes, as the court recognized the impossibility of controlling so great a hero by means of a single, and perhaps insignificant, man. (Roscher,Spanish Colonial system, Bourne’s ed., p. 24, note 5.)↑7The writer here adds: “This exportation is of very little importance in the markets of Asia, where the more usual and cheaper beverage for the people is Rak [English, “arrack”], or wine made from rice.”↑8In 1853 a pamphlet was published at Madrid, written by Sinibaldo de Mas, entitled,Articulo sobre las rentas de Filipinas y los medios de aumentarlas,” written for theBoletin Oficialof the Treasury Department.” (Vindel,Catálogo biblioteca filipina, no. 1558.)↑9“Only since 1843 have the Chinese shops been opened on the same terms as those of other foreigners. But there is no doubt that the Chinese have been a great boon to the colony. They have had, in the main, a civilizing influence on the natives, and have taught them many important things: as the working of iron and the manufacture of sugar from the juice of the sugar-cane. They have also ever been the leaders in commerce and the chief middlemen of the colony; and for this reason mainly they have been deemed an unwelcome necessity, for, without them, trade would almost be brought to a standstill, and, in consequence, labor would suffer and living be rendered dearer to every class. By their superior shrewdness and unscrupulous cunning they have, on the other hand, excited the hatred of the natives, who despise them for their cowardice. Thus, from time to time, the feeling against them is very bitter. Another objection against the Celestial is that he underbids all competitors, working for what others refuse. Furthermore, he spends little, and all that he saves he carries to his own country. Their expulsion, however, would be as unwise as it is impracticable, and the only remedy that meets the case is a proper State-control. The employment of coolie labor, notwithstanding, is at present impossible, on account of the hatred that the lower-class natives feel toward them. In Manila there are at present no less than 40,000 Chinese, while the whole colony contains about 100,000. They have their own courts, their guilds, and secret societies, which are necessary for their self-protection; and they choose representative deputations to represent them in the Government.” (Lala,Philippine Islands, pp. 104–106.)Le Gentil says (Voyage, ii, p. 101) of the banishment of the Chinese from Manila in 1767 (at which time he was residing there): “I did not know any Spaniard in Manila who did not sincerely regret the departure of the Chinese, and who did not frankly admit that the Philippines would suffer for it, because the Indians are not capable of replacing the Chinese …. The Parian was a sort of market, where could be found provision of everything necessary for living; and it is not withoutreason that the Spaniards regretted the loss of this laborious people.”↑10“This spirit of greed compelled the Chinese to abandon in their internal commerce the gold and silver coins which were in general use. The number of those who made counterfeit money, which was continually increasing, permitted no other line of conduct; and money was no longer coined save in copper. This metal, however, having become scarce, in consequence of events which history does not record, the shells so well known under the name of ‘cauris’ [English, ‘cowries’] were mingled with the copper coins; but the government, having observed that the people were dissatisfied with so frail an article, ordered that the copper utensils throughout the entire empire should be given up to the mints. As this ill-judged expedient did not furnish resources adequate to the public needs, the government caused about four hundred temples of Foé to be demolished, the idols in which were melted down. Finally the court paid the magistrates and the army partly in copper and partly in paper; but the people rebelled against so dangerous innovation, and it became necessary to give it up. Since that time, which was three centuries ago, the coinage of copper is the only legal one.” (Raynal,Établissemens et commerce des Européens, i, pp. 641, 642).↑11Spanish,temporalidades: referring to the bureau in charge of the property formerly belonging to the Jesuits.↑12Thus in text, but evidently a clerical error by Bernaldez’s amanuensis. A similar discrepancy is seen in the estimate of the trader’s profits, below.↑
1The great length of this document obliges us to summarize passages of lesser importance; but as much of the author’s exact language has been retained as possible.↑2Bernaldez refers to the massacre of foreigners in 1820, and the mutiny under Novales in 1823, both of which are related in the first document of this volume.↑3In theArchivo general de Indiasat Sevilla is a MS. map, drawn (June 20, 1773) by the government engineer at Manila, Miguel A. Gomez, showing “portion of the site on the river of Tanay, indicating the plan of the iron-works for casting anchors and artillery, and the shop for casting the small iron articles which are called in the Philippine archipelagocauas—which are equivalent to kettles, boilers, and frying-pans, and which the Chinese or Sangleys manufacture with so great skill and dexterity.” Gomez estimated that this establishment would cost “at least 175,000 pesos, without reckoning the cost of the dwelling-houses” for officials, artisans, and laborers.↑4The native name for the annotto (Bixa orellana), the seeds of which produce a yellow substance used for coloring cheese, butter, etc.↑5Polizon: “a person who embarks by stealth and without a passport, in the ships which sail to America.” (Dominguez.)↑6“The association of the Audiencia with the governor began in 1527, with Cortes, as the court recognized the impossibility of controlling so great a hero by means of a single, and perhaps insignificant, man. (Roscher,Spanish Colonial system, Bourne’s ed., p. 24, note 5.)↑7The writer here adds: “This exportation is of very little importance in the markets of Asia, where the more usual and cheaper beverage for the people is Rak [English, “arrack”], or wine made from rice.”↑8In 1853 a pamphlet was published at Madrid, written by Sinibaldo de Mas, entitled,Articulo sobre las rentas de Filipinas y los medios de aumentarlas,” written for theBoletin Oficialof the Treasury Department.” (Vindel,Catálogo biblioteca filipina, no. 1558.)↑9“Only since 1843 have the Chinese shops been opened on the same terms as those of other foreigners. But there is no doubt that the Chinese have been a great boon to the colony. They have had, in the main, a civilizing influence on the natives, and have taught them many important things: as the working of iron and the manufacture of sugar from the juice of the sugar-cane. They have also ever been the leaders in commerce and the chief middlemen of the colony; and for this reason mainly they have been deemed an unwelcome necessity, for, without them, trade would almost be brought to a standstill, and, in consequence, labor would suffer and living be rendered dearer to every class. By their superior shrewdness and unscrupulous cunning they have, on the other hand, excited the hatred of the natives, who despise them for their cowardice. Thus, from time to time, the feeling against them is very bitter. Another objection against the Celestial is that he underbids all competitors, working for what others refuse. Furthermore, he spends little, and all that he saves he carries to his own country. Their expulsion, however, would be as unwise as it is impracticable, and the only remedy that meets the case is a proper State-control. The employment of coolie labor, notwithstanding, is at present impossible, on account of the hatred that the lower-class natives feel toward them. In Manila there are at present no less than 40,000 Chinese, while the whole colony contains about 100,000. They have their own courts, their guilds, and secret societies, which are necessary for their self-protection; and they choose representative deputations to represent them in the Government.” (Lala,Philippine Islands, pp. 104–106.)Le Gentil says (Voyage, ii, p. 101) of the banishment of the Chinese from Manila in 1767 (at which time he was residing there): “I did not know any Spaniard in Manila who did not sincerely regret the departure of the Chinese, and who did not frankly admit that the Philippines would suffer for it, because the Indians are not capable of replacing the Chinese …. The Parian was a sort of market, where could be found provision of everything necessary for living; and it is not withoutreason that the Spaniards regretted the loss of this laborious people.”↑10“This spirit of greed compelled the Chinese to abandon in their internal commerce the gold and silver coins which were in general use. The number of those who made counterfeit money, which was continually increasing, permitted no other line of conduct; and money was no longer coined save in copper. This metal, however, having become scarce, in consequence of events which history does not record, the shells so well known under the name of ‘cauris’ [English, ‘cowries’] were mingled with the copper coins; but the government, having observed that the people were dissatisfied with so frail an article, ordered that the copper utensils throughout the entire empire should be given up to the mints. As this ill-judged expedient did not furnish resources adequate to the public needs, the government caused about four hundred temples of Foé to be demolished, the idols in which were melted down. Finally the court paid the magistrates and the army partly in copper and partly in paper; but the people rebelled against so dangerous innovation, and it became necessary to give it up. Since that time, which was three centuries ago, the coinage of copper is the only legal one.” (Raynal,Établissemens et commerce des Européens, i, pp. 641, 642).↑11Spanish,temporalidades: referring to the bureau in charge of the property formerly belonging to the Jesuits.↑12Thus in text, but evidently a clerical error by Bernaldez’s amanuensis. A similar discrepancy is seen in the estimate of the trader’s profits, below.↑
1The great length of this document obliges us to summarize passages of lesser importance; but as much of the author’s exact language has been retained as possible.↑2Bernaldez refers to the massacre of foreigners in 1820, and the mutiny under Novales in 1823, both of which are related in the first document of this volume.↑3In theArchivo general de Indiasat Sevilla is a MS. map, drawn (June 20, 1773) by the government engineer at Manila, Miguel A. Gomez, showing “portion of the site on the river of Tanay, indicating the plan of the iron-works for casting anchors and artillery, and the shop for casting the small iron articles which are called in the Philippine archipelagocauas—which are equivalent to kettles, boilers, and frying-pans, and which the Chinese or Sangleys manufacture with so great skill and dexterity.” Gomez estimated that this establishment would cost “at least 175,000 pesos, without reckoning the cost of the dwelling-houses” for officials, artisans, and laborers.↑4The native name for the annotto (Bixa orellana), the seeds of which produce a yellow substance used for coloring cheese, butter, etc.↑5Polizon: “a person who embarks by stealth and without a passport, in the ships which sail to America.” (Dominguez.)↑6“The association of the Audiencia with the governor began in 1527, with Cortes, as the court recognized the impossibility of controlling so great a hero by means of a single, and perhaps insignificant, man. (Roscher,Spanish Colonial system, Bourne’s ed., p. 24, note 5.)↑7The writer here adds: “This exportation is of very little importance in the markets of Asia, where the more usual and cheaper beverage for the people is Rak [English, “arrack”], or wine made from rice.”↑8In 1853 a pamphlet was published at Madrid, written by Sinibaldo de Mas, entitled,Articulo sobre las rentas de Filipinas y los medios de aumentarlas,” written for theBoletin Oficialof the Treasury Department.” (Vindel,Catálogo biblioteca filipina, no. 1558.)↑9“Only since 1843 have the Chinese shops been opened on the same terms as those of other foreigners. But there is no doubt that the Chinese have been a great boon to the colony. They have had, in the main, a civilizing influence on the natives, and have taught them many important things: as the working of iron and the manufacture of sugar from the juice of the sugar-cane. They have also ever been the leaders in commerce and the chief middlemen of the colony; and for this reason mainly they have been deemed an unwelcome necessity, for, without them, trade would almost be brought to a standstill, and, in consequence, labor would suffer and living be rendered dearer to every class. By their superior shrewdness and unscrupulous cunning they have, on the other hand, excited the hatred of the natives, who despise them for their cowardice. Thus, from time to time, the feeling against them is very bitter. Another objection against the Celestial is that he underbids all competitors, working for what others refuse. Furthermore, he spends little, and all that he saves he carries to his own country. Their expulsion, however, would be as unwise as it is impracticable, and the only remedy that meets the case is a proper State-control. The employment of coolie labor, notwithstanding, is at present impossible, on account of the hatred that the lower-class natives feel toward them. In Manila there are at present no less than 40,000 Chinese, while the whole colony contains about 100,000. They have their own courts, their guilds, and secret societies, which are necessary for their self-protection; and they choose representative deputations to represent them in the Government.” (Lala,Philippine Islands, pp. 104–106.)Le Gentil says (Voyage, ii, p. 101) of the banishment of the Chinese from Manila in 1767 (at which time he was residing there): “I did not know any Spaniard in Manila who did not sincerely regret the departure of the Chinese, and who did not frankly admit that the Philippines would suffer for it, because the Indians are not capable of replacing the Chinese …. The Parian was a sort of market, where could be found provision of everything necessary for living; and it is not withoutreason that the Spaniards regretted the loss of this laborious people.”↑10“This spirit of greed compelled the Chinese to abandon in their internal commerce the gold and silver coins which were in general use. The number of those who made counterfeit money, which was continually increasing, permitted no other line of conduct; and money was no longer coined save in copper. This metal, however, having become scarce, in consequence of events which history does not record, the shells so well known under the name of ‘cauris’ [English, ‘cowries’] were mingled with the copper coins; but the government, having observed that the people were dissatisfied with so frail an article, ordered that the copper utensils throughout the entire empire should be given up to the mints. As this ill-judged expedient did not furnish resources adequate to the public needs, the government caused about four hundred temples of Foé to be demolished, the idols in which were melted down. Finally the court paid the magistrates and the army partly in copper and partly in paper; but the people rebelled against so dangerous innovation, and it became necessary to give it up. Since that time, which was three centuries ago, the coinage of copper is the only legal one.” (Raynal,Établissemens et commerce des Européens, i, pp. 641, 642).↑11Spanish,temporalidades: referring to the bureau in charge of the property formerly belonging to the Jesuits.↑12Thus in text, but evidently a clerical error by Bernaldez’s amanuensis. A similar discrepancy is seen in the estimate of the trader’s profits, below.↑
1The great length of this document obliges us to summarize passages of lesser importance; but as much of the author’s exact language has been retained as possible.↑2Bernaldez refers to the massacre of foreigners in 1820, and the mutiny under Novales in 1823, both of which are related in the first document of this volume.↑3In theArchivo general de Indiasat Sevilla is a MS. map, drawn (June 20, 1773) by the government engineer at Manila, Miguel A. Gomez, showing “portion of the site on the river of Tanay, indicating the plan of the iron-works for casting anchors and artillery, and the shop for casting the small iron articles which are called in the Philippine archipelagocauas—which are equivalent to kettles, boilers, and frying-pans, and which the Chinese or Sangleys manufacture with so great skill and dexterity.” Gomez estimated that this establishment would cost “at least 175,000 pesos, without reckoning the cost of the dwelling-houses” for officials, artisans, and laborers.↑4The native name for the annotto (Bixa orellana), the seeds of which produce a yellow substance used for coloring cheese, butter, etc.↑5Polizon: “a person who embarks by stealth and without a passport, in the ships which sail to America.” (Dominguez.)↑6“The association of the Audiencia with the governor began in 1527, with Cortes, as the court recognized the impossibility of controlling so great a hero by means of a single, and perhaps insignificant, man. (Roscher,Spanish Colonial system, Bourne’s ed., p. 24, note 5.)↑7The writer here adds: “This exportation is of very little importance in the markets of Asia, where the more usual and cheaper beverage for the people is Rak [English, “arrack”], or wine made from rice.”↑8In 1853 a pamphlet was published at Madrid, written by Sinibaldo de Mas, entitled,Articulo sobre las rentas de Filipinas y los medios de aumentarlas,” written for theBoletin Oficialof the Treasury Department.” (Vindel,Catálogo biblioteca filipina, no. 1558.)↑9“Only since 1843 have the Chinese shops been opened on the same terms as those of other foreigners. But there is no doubt that the Chinese have been a great boon to the colony. They have had, in the main, a civilizing influence on the natives, and have taught them many important things: as the working of iron and the manufacture of sugar from the juice of the sugar-cane. They have also ever been the leaders in commerce and the chief middlemen of the colony; and for this reason mainly they have been deemed an unwelcome necessity, for, without them, trade would almost be brought to a standstill, and, in consequence, labor would suffer and living be rendered dearer to every class. By their superior shrewdness and unscrupulous cunning they have, on the other hand, excited the hatred of the natives, who despise them for their cowardice. Thus, from time to time, the feeling against them is very bitter. Another objection against the Celestial is that he underbids all competitors, working for what others refuse. Furthermore, he spends little, and all that he saves he carries to his own country. Their expulsion, however, would be as unwise as it is impracticable, and the only remedy that meets the case is a proper State-control. The employment of coolie labor, notwithstanding, is at present impossible, on account of the hatred that the lower-class natives feel toward them. In Manila there are at present no less than 40,000 Chinese, while the whole colony contains about 100,000. They have their own courts, their guilds, and secret societies, which are necessary for their self-protection; and they choose representative deputations to represent them in the Government.” (Lala,Philippine Islands, pp. 104–106.)Le Gentil says (Voyage, ii, p. 101) of the banishment of the Chinese from Manila in 1767 (at which time he was residing there): “I did not know any Spaniard in Manila who did not sincerely regret the departure of the Chinese, and who did not frankly admit that the Philippines would suffer for it, because the Indians are not capable of replacing the Chinese …. The Parian was a sort of market, where could be found provision of everything necessary for living; and it is not withoutreason that the Spaniards regretted the loss of this laborious people.”↑10“This spirit of greed compelled the Chinese to abandon in their internal commerce the gold and silver coins which were in general use. The number of those who made counterfeit money, which was continually increasing, permitted no other line of conduct; and money was no longer coined save in copper. This metal, however, having become scarce, in consequence of events which history does not record, the shells so well known under the name of ‘cauris’ [English, ‘cowries’] were mingled with the copper coins; but the government, having observed that the people were dissatisfied with so frail an article, ordered that the copper utensils throughout the entire empire should be given up to the mints. As this ill-judged expedient did not furnish resources adequate to the public needs, the government caused about four hundred temples of Foé to be demolished, the idols in which were melted down. Finally the court paid the magistrates and the army partly in copper and partly in paper; but the people rebelled against so dangerous innovation, and it became necessary to give it up. Since that time, which was three centuries ago, the coinage of copper is the only legal one.” (Raynal,Établissemens et commerce des Européens, i, pp. 641, 642).↑11Spanish,temporalidades: referring to the bureau in charge of the property formerly belonging to the Jesuits.↑12Thus in text, but evidently a clerical error by Bernaldez’s amanuensis. A similar discrepancy is seen in the estimate of the trader’s profits, below.↑
1The great length of this document obliges us to summarize passages of lesser importance; but as much of the author’s exact language has been retained as possible.↑2Bernaldez refers to the massacre of foreigners in 1820, and the mutiny under Novales in 1823, both of which are related in the first document of this volume.↑3In theArchivo general de Indiasat Sevilla is a MS. map, drawn (June 20, 1773) by the government engineer at Manila, Miguel A. Gomez, showing “portion of the site on the river of Tanay, indicating the plan of the iron-works for casting anchors and artillery, and the shop for casting the small iron articles which are called in the Philippine archipelagocauas—which are equivalent to kettles, boilers, and frying-pans, and which the Chinese or Sangleys manufacture with so great skill and dexterity.” Gomez estimated that this establishment would cost “at least 175,000 pesos, without reckoning the cost of the dwelling-houses” for officials, artisans, and laborers.↑4The native name for the annotto (Bixa orellana), the seeds of which produce a yellow substance used for coloring cheese, butter, etc.↑5Polizon: “a person who embarks by stealth and without a passport, in the ships which sail to America.” (Dominguez.)↑6“The association of the Audiencia with the governor began in 1527, with Cortes, as the court recognized the impossibility of controlling so great a hero by means of a single, and perhaps insignificant, man. (Roscher,Spanish Colonial system, Bourne’s ed., p. 24, note 5.)↑7The writer here adds: “This exportation is of very little importance in the markets of Asia, where the more usual and cheaper beverage for the people is Rak [English, “arrack”], or wine made from rice.”↑8In 1853 a pamphlet was published at Madrid, written by Sinibaldo de Mas, entitled,Articulo sobre las rentas de Filipinas y los medios de aumentarlas,” written for theBoletin Oficialof the Treasury Department.” (Vindel,Catálogo biblioteca filipina, no. 1558.)↑9“Only since 1843 have the Chinese shops been opened on the same terms as those of other foreigners. But there is no doubt that the Chinese have been a great boon to the colony. They have had, in the main, a civilizing influence on the natives, and have taught them many important things: as the working of iron and the manufacture of sugar from the juice of the sugar-cane. They have also ever been the leaders in commerce and the chief middlemen of the colony; and for this reason mainly they have been deemed an unwelcome necessity, for, without them, trade would almost be brought to a standstill, and, in consequence, labor would suffer and living be rendered dearer to every class. By their superior shrewdness and unscrupulous cunning they have, on the other hand, excited the hatred of the natives, who despise them for their cowardice. Thus, from time to time, the feeling against them is very bitter. Another objection against the Celestial is that he underbids all competitors, working for what others refuse. Furthermore, he spends little, and all that he saves he carries to his own country. Their expulsion, however, would be as unwise as it is impracticable, and the only remedy that meets the case is a proper State-control. The employment of coolie labor, notwithstanding, is at present impossible, on account of the hatred that the lower-class natives feel toward them. In Manila there are at present no less than 40,000 Chinese, while the whole colony contains about 100,000. They have their own courts, their guilds, and secret societies, which are necessary for their self-protection; and they choose representative deputations to represent them in the Government.” (Lala,Philippine Islands, pp. 104–106.)Le Gentil says (Voyage, ii, p. 101) of the banishment of the Chinese from Manila in 1767 (at which time he was residing there): “I did not know any Spaniard in Manila who did not sincerely regret the departure of the Chinese, and who did not frankly admit that the Philippines would suffer for it, because the Indians are not capable of replacing the Chinese …. The Parian was a sort of market, where could be found provision of everything necessary for living; and it is not withoutreason that the Spaniards regretted the loss of this laborious people.”↑10“This spirit of greed compelled the Chinese to abandon in their internal commerce the gold and silver coins which were in general use. The number of those who made counterfeit money, which was continually increasing, permitted no other line of conduct; and money was no longer coined save in copper. This metal, however, having become scarce, in consequence of events which history does not record, the shells so well known under the name of ‘cauris’ [English, ‘cowries’] were mingled with the copper coins; but the government, having observed that the people were dissatisfied with so frail an article, ordered that the copper utensils throughout the entire empire should be given up to the mints. As this ill-judged expedient did not furnish resources adequate to the public needs, the government caused about four hundred temples of Foé to be demolished, the idols in which were melted down. Finally the court paid the magistrates and the army partly in copper and partly in paper; but the people rebelled against so dangerous innovation, and it became necessary to give it up. Since that time, which was three centuries ago, the coinage of copper is the only legal one.” (Raynal,Établissemens et commerce des Européens, i, pp. 641, 642).↑11Spanish,temporalidades: referring to the bureau in charge of the property formerly belonging to the Jesuits.↑12Thus in text, but evidently a clerical error by Bernaldez’s amanuensis. A similar discrepancy is seen in the estimate of the trader’s profits, below.↑
1The great length of this document obliges us to summarize passages of lesser importance; but as much of the author’s exact language has been retained as possible.↑
2Bernaldez refers to the massacre of foreigners in 1820, and the mutiny under Novales in 1823, both of which are related in the first document of this volume.↑
3In theArchivo general de Indiasat Sevilla is a MS. map, drawn (June 20, 1773) by the government engineer at Manila, Miguel A. Gomez, showing “portion of the site on the river of Tanay, indicating the plan of the iron-works for casting anchors and artillery, and the shop for casting the small iron articles which are called in the Philippine archipelagocauas—which are equivalent to kettles, boilers, and frying-pans, and which the Chinese or Sangleys manufacture with so great skill and dexterity.” Gomez estimated that this establishment would cost “at least 175,000 pesos, without reckoning the cost of the dwelling-houses” for officials, artisans, and laborers.↑
4The native name for the annotto (Bixa orellana), the seeds of which produce a yellow substance used for coloring cheese, butter, etc.↑
5Polizon: “a person who embarks by stealth and without a passport, in the ships which sail to America.” (Dominguez.)↑
6“The association of the Audiencia with the governor began in 1527, with Cortes, as the court recognized the impossibility of controlling so great a hero by means of a single, and perhaps insignificant, man. (Roscher,Spanish Colonial system, Bourne’s ed., p. 24, note 5.)↑
7The writer here adds: “This exportation is of very little importance in the markets of Asia, where the more usual and cheaper beverage for the people is Rak [English, “arrack”], or wine made from rice.”↑
8In 1853 a pamphlet was published at Madrid, written by Sinibaldo de Mas, entitled,Articulo sobre las rentas de Filipinas y los medios de aumentarlas,” written for theBoletin Oficialof the Treasury Department.” (Vindel,Catálogo biblioteca filipina, no. 1558.)↑
9“Only since 1843 have the Chinese shops been opened on the same terms as those of other foreigners. But there is no doubt that the Chinese have been a great boon to the colony. They have had, in the main, a civilizing influence on the natives, and have taught them many important things: as the working of iron and the manufacture of sugar from the juice of the sugar-cane. They have also ever been the leaders in commerce and the chief middlemen of the colony; and for this reason mainly they have been deemed an unwelcome necessity, for, without them, trade would almost be brought to a standstill, and, in consequence, labor would suffer and living be rendered dearer to every class. By their superior shrewdness and unscrupulous cunning they have, on the other hand, excited the hatred of the natives, who despise them for their cowardice. Thus, from time to time, the feeling against them is very bitter. Another objection against the Celestial is that he underbids all competitors, working for what others refuse. Furthermore, he spends little, and all that he saves he carries to his own country. Their expulsion, however, would be as unwise as it is impracticable, and the only remedy that meets the case is a proper State-control. The employment of coolie labor, notwithstanding, is at present impossible, on account of the hatred that the lower-class natives feel toward them. In Manila there are at present no less than 40,000 Chinese, while the whole colony contains about 100,000. They have their own courts, their guilds, and secret societies, which are necessary for their self-protection; and they choose representative deputations to represent them in the Government.” (Lala,Philippine Islands, pp. 104–106.)
Le Gentil says (Voyage, ii, p. 101) of the banishment of the Chinese from Manila in 1767 (at which time he was residing there): “I did not know any Spaniard in Manila who did not sincerely regret the departure of the Chinese, and who did not frankly admit that the Philippines would suffer for it, because the Indians are not capable of replacing the Chinese …. The Parian was a sort of market, where could be found provision of everything necessary for living; and it is not withoutreason that the Spaniards regretted the loss of this laborious people.”↑
10“This spirit of greed compelled the Chinese to abandon in their internal commerce the gold and silver coins which were in general use. The number of those who made counterfeit money, which was continually increasing, permitted no other line of conduct; and money was no longer coined save in copper. This metal, however, having become scarce, in consequence of events which history does not record, the shells so well known under the name of ‘cauris’ [English, ‘cowries’] were mingled with the copper coins; but the government, having observed that the people were dissatisfied with so frail an article, ordered that the copper utensils throughout the entire empire should be given up to the mints. As this ill-judged expedient did not furnish resources adequate to the public needs, the government caused about four hundred temples of Foé to be demolished, the idols in which were melted down. Finally the court paid the magistrates and the army partly in copper and partly in paper; but the people rebelled against so dangerous innovation, and it became necessary to give it up. Since that time, which was three centuries ago, the coinage of copper is the only legal one.” (Raynal,Établissemens et commerce des Européens, i, pp. 641, 642).↑
11Spanish,temporalidades: referring to the bureau in charge of the property formerly belonging to the Jesuits.↑
12Thus in text, but evidently a clerical error by Bernaldez’s amanuensis. A similar discrepancy is seen in the estimate of the trader’s profits, below.↑