Those who are
masters--the ones who lay out, prepare, round; and make the masts,
yards, and topmasts are each paid three or four pesos of eight reals
a month, and double rations.
When a fleet was being prepared in Cavite there were generally one
thousand four hundred of these carpenters there. Just now there are
very few, for when the Mindanao enemies burned one galleon and two
pataches in the past year, one thousand six hundred and seventeen,
which were being built in the shipyard of Pantao, sixty leguas from the
city of Manila, they captured more than four hundred of the workmen,
and killed more than two hundred others; while many have died through
the severe work in the building. And because, they have been paid for
five years nothing except a little aid, many have fled from the land;
and so few remain that when the last ships sailed from the city and
port of Manila last year, six hundred and eighteen, there were not
two hundred of those Indians in Cabite. [47]
The iron used in the construction of these ships and galleys is brought
from China and Japon to the city of Manila. Don Juan de Silva sent
patterns of all the nails, and excellently made ones were brought,
and cost your Majesty but eight reals per arroba. Iron is brought
in the rough and is wrought in Cabite, and costs your Majesty but
twenty-four reals per quintal of five arrobas. There all the nails and
bolts are wrought, as well as _estoperoles_, [48] tacks [_tachuelas_],
and everything else needed.
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