Authentic Letters of Columbus. 119 



And further, that all tlie gold so gathered be melted right 

 away, and weighed and stamped subsequently with such a mark 

 or seal as the town may have devised and selected; and that the share 

 of that gold which belongs to Your Highnesses be given and delivered 

 to the mayor of the town, the proper record thereof being made by 

 the clerk, and by the secular priest or friar who may witness to it, so 

 as to cause the transaction to be known by more than one person, and 

 render the concealing of the truth impossible. 



Furthermore, that all the gold which may be found without the 

 mark or seal aforesaid in the possession of anyone who formerly had 

 reported once as aforesaid, be forfeited and divided by halves, one for 

 the informer and the other for Your Highnesses. 



And further, that one per cent, of all the gold gathered be set 

 apart and appropriated for building churches, and providing for their 

 proper furnishing and ornamentation, and to the support of the secular 

 priests or friars having them in their charge, and, if so deemed advis- 

 able, for the payment of some compensation to the mayors and clerks 

 of the respective towns, so as to cause them to fulfill their duties 

 faithfully; and that the balance be delivered to the governor and 

 treasurer sent there by Yovir Highnesses. 



And further, and in regard to the division of the gold and the 

 setting apart the share which belongs to Your Highnesses, I am of the 

 opinion that the operation must be entrusted to the said governor and 

 treasurer, because the amount of the gold found may sometimes be 

 large and sometimes small, and if so deemed advisable, that the share 

 of Your Highnesses be established for one year to be one-half, the 

 other half going to the gatherers, reserving for a future time to make 

 some other and better provision if necessary. 



And further, that if the mayors and clerks commit any fraud in 

 these matters, or consent to it, the proper punishment be inflicted 

 upon them, and that a penalty be likewise imposed upon those colon- 

 ists who do not report in full the whole amount of the gold which is 

 in their possession. 



And further, that a treasurer be appointed and sent to the said 

 island, who shall receive all the gold belonging to Your Highnesses, 

 and shall have a clerk to make and keep the proper record of the re- 

 ceipts, and that the mayors and clerks of the respective towns be given 

 proper vouchers for everything which they may deliver to the said 

 treasurer. 



And further, that whereas the extreme anxiety of the colonists to 

 gather gold may induce them to neglect all other business and occu- 

 pations, it seems to me that prohibition should be made to them to en- 

 gage in tlie search of gold during some season of the year, so as to 

 give all other business, profitable to the island, an opportunity to be 

 established and carried on. 



And further, that as far as the business of discovering other lands 

 is concerned, it is my opinion that permission to do so should be given 

 to every one who desires to embark in it, and that some liberality 

 should be shown in reducing the fifth to be given as tribute, so as to 

 encourage as many as possible for entering into such undertakings. 



