among them. Under this pretext of administration of justice and of
defense, at least a sufficient maintenance may be derived.

Let your Lordship take this matter into careful consideration. For
my own part, cogent reasons oblige me to believe that, if this plan
be not carried out, the encomenderos much of necessity abandon their
encomiendas, as has [_illegible in MS._] and no one will be found
willing to burden himself with this charge and enter into relations
with the Indians, in return for so small a stipend. Even if there were
such persons, we could not place in them the confidence that we now
have in the encomenderos, in whose virtue and Christian spirit his
Majesty's conscience remains at rest. This would not be so secure in
the care of substitutes, who replace persons who have abandoned their
holdings, for lack [_illegible in MS._] without much fear of being
obliged to give a bad account of either themselves or the Indians;
and, consequently, instead of introducing our holy faith among them,
would only irritate the natives by oppression and ill-treatment.

This being so, if the encomenderos should abandon their offices, and
no capable persons could be found in their stead, the rule of the
Spaniards would come to an end in this land; for, as they possess
here nothing beyond the encomiendas as a source of profit and a
recompense for their services, if they should be deprived of these
I fear that they all would depart from the country and it would be
depopulated. In such a case, let your Lordship consider which of
the two evils is the less, and which should be preferred: namely,
that matters should remain in their present and past condition until
his Majesty, after thorough information, make suitable provision;
or that, in order to remedy this insignificant evil, we should run
the risk of ruining and depopulating all the islands. I, my Lord,