pieces of artillery, two falcon guns, and arquebuses and other arms carried by the sailors and passengers.  I am collecting what metal I can find and making thereof some pieces of ordnance with which to fill the place of those sent from the said forts.  The merchants are paying your Majesty the value of the artillery, arms, and ammunition carried by one of the ships, and I have loaned the price of those of the other.  They will pay this also in the coming year, and the ships will sail armed at the account and cost of the merchants.  I beseech your Majesty to command the viceroy of Nueva Espana to have the artillery and arms returned by the same ships; and that the pieces carried by the “Sancta Ana” be returned to these forts, which greatly need them.

In another letter I have written to your Majesty about the general fire in this city.  The powder and military supplies were burned and the artillery destroyed.  Although I have had the pieces recast, using the metal which was left, there are only twenty-five heavy pieces and several lighter ones.  This is but little artillery for the needs of this land, for defense and the expeditions that are made.  Some copper mines have been discovered but although at first they seemed to be very rich, on commencing to work them, it was found that the labor was expensive and there was but little metal.  Everything necessary could be brought from Macan, if your Majesty were pleased to have money sent from your royal treasury of Mexico for this purpose.

I have already written to your Majesty of the necessity that, for the preservation of this land, the viceroy of Nueva Espana send annual reenforcements of troops, arms, and ammunition.  As this has not been done for three years, the majority of the troops have died, and there are now so few here, that if reenforcements are not supplied according to the requests of the governor and officers of the royal exchequer, great risk will be run, and what your Majesty has gained and preserved at cost of such labors and expenses will be irretrievably lost.  I especially beg your Majesty to order such provision to be made that so propitious a beginning be not lost, and the door closed which has been opened by your Majesty for the conversion of so large and powerful kingdoms with untold riches and innumerable inhabitants.

According to your Majesty’s commands I had some galleys made in these islands, and I have three at this port.  They are of little use, because of the lack of men skilled in managing and sailing with lateen sails, and the scarcity of rowers.  I have tried to keep up its crew by hiring men; but the natives are so despicable a people that they are of little use for this purpose, nor do they have sufficient strength for rowing.  On hearing the report of an arquebus they throw themselves on the ground, and do not rise even at the lash.  I have selected three hundred Chinese, who are stronger, and who, if allowed liberty to quit the work, and exemption from tribute, will