[47] The offices of those in charge of the building of ships
would seem, from the following law, to have been a sinecure in the
islands. This law is taken from _Recopilacion de leyes_, lib. v,
tit. xv, ley viii. "The governors of Filipinas appoint persons to build
the galleons or boats, who are wont to cause great thefts and injuries
to our royal treasury, and on the Indians. For their occupation they
are given ten or more toneladas of cargo in the trading ships, on
account of being relatives or followers of the governors. Some have
had as many as forty toneladas, and have filled them with gold at forty
reals per tae, or seven and one-half castellanos--forcibly seizing it
from the Indians at an unjust price, in order afterward to sell it at
ninety-six reals per tae. Inasmuch as they are persons of influence,
their residencia is never taken. We order that the residencias of such
builders, and of the others who shall have received and had money from
the royal treasury for shipbuilding or any other sea or land expense,
shall be taken, at the same time as those of the presidents and
ministers who are obliged to give them. In respect to the governors
not employing their relatives and kinsmen, servants, or followers,
or those of the auditors, in these matters or in any others, they
shall keep the rules and ordinances." Felipe IV, August 19, 1621.
[48] Short, round-headed tarpauling nails.
[49] Apparently another name for the palm-tree called by the Tagals
_cauong_ (_Arenga saccharifera_--Labill.
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