they be not deprived of it, and that they may be able to attend to
everything. Therefore, we order the governor that, at the beginning
of the year, he shall take note of the building and other matters
of our service in which the Indians have to be employed; for if the
time is chosen, it may be arranged in such a way that the Indians
may receive no considerable injury to their property or persons.

That, granting the poor arrangement and plan of the caracoas, and
that when remanded to them many Indians generally perish, because of
sailing without a deck, and exposed to the inclemencies of storms,
we order that these craft be improved and built in such a manner that
the Indians may manage the oars without risk of health and life.

In all the above, and in all that may touch their preservation
and increase, we order the governor to proceed with the care and
vigilance that we expect, and that he punish signally and rigorously
the ill-treatment received by the Indians from their caciques or from
the Spaniards--especially should the latter be our officials, upon whom
the penalties must be more rigorously executed. We request and charge
both the secular prelates and the provincials of the orders to exercise
the same attention in the punishment of offenses of this nature,
committed by the ministers of instruction and other ecclesiastical
persons. And we order that any omission of the governors, justices,
and officials entrusted, in whole or in part, with the observance
and fulfilment of this law be made a matter of their residencia.

[Law passed in the reign of Felipe III, and dated Aranjuez, May 26,
1609.]