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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 10 of 55 - 1597-1599 by Unknown
page 80 of 280 (28%)
times. This proves a great burden to the Indians, because of the
annoyances, and the requirements of services and contributions with
which they afflict them, and which constitute the only purpose of
their going.

124. At other times they send collectors, who are very unworthy and
have no compassion on the cause of the Indians, whom they afflict and
maltreat worse even than do their masters, and do them more harm. In
most cases, these collectors are not approved by those in authority,
nor do they, bear permission from them.

125. They dispute and quarrel with the magistrates on slight
pretexts, and incite their Indians not to obey them or listen to
their summons. This they do quite commonly, whenever they fail to
find the judges unwilling to shield them in whatever they choose to
do in their encomiendas. If they act in harmony, it generally means
more injury to the wretched Indians.


_The royal estate_

126. These encomenderos conceal in great part the amount of the
tributes collected by them, and show only partial lists of the
collections. Usually they retain the amount in their own hands for
a long time, before bringing it to the treasury.

127. The most important thing here is the royal treasury, for on it
all the people of the islands depend; yet it receives the least care
and the poorest management.

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