Thus they practice many injustices against the Indian;
but, if he knew that he had to pay in kind, he would rear the fowls
as formerly.
_Item_: There is one abuse very worthy of correction, which is, that
the religious and alcaldes-mayor keep certain Indians in service,
whom the village grants weekly, and who are called _tanores_. Those
Indians have to serve for nothing, which is contrary to justice and
their rights. This was introduced from the custom in Nueva Espana. Will
your Highness be pleased to order that the said _tamores_ [_sic_]
be suppressed, or that they be paid for their toil. For they make use
of such Indians, and manage to be well served at others' expense. It
is also the custom to give fish freely on Friday, at the cost of the
village, to the alcaldes-mayor and also to the religious.
_Item_: That the royal Audiencia shall not try the suits of the
Indians in the first instance; for all the cases are brought before the
Audiencia, and the Indians spend all their substance with lawyers and
attorneys, and even go into debt, for they are fond of litigation. And
since suits conducted by audiencias last so long, the Indians spend
all their substance, which means the ruin of the country. Since your
Highness has ordered that such suits be tried summarily and orally,
will your Highness be pleased to order that that decree be observed;
and that the alcaldes-mayor and justices try in the first instance,
and in the second in a case fully proven, so that the Audiencia may
give sentence therein, and despatch the suits quickly.
Pages:
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307