82 DISCONTENT OF THE SOLDIERY. 



greatest scarcity of many necessaries which the 

 country did not produce. The soldiery, even 

 to the commander himself, were in rags, with 

 out pay, and deriving a mendicant subsistence 

 from the monks. The want which pressed most 

 heavily on the latter was that of the imple 

 ments of agriculture and other labour ; having, 

 with true Spanish indolence, forborne any at 

 tempt to manufacture them in the country. 

 The very source of all their acquisitions was 

 thus threatened with extinction ; yet still they 

 adhered to their King, with a fidelity truly 

 honourable had it been more disinterested : 

 but what could they expect from a change of 

 government, except the limitations of their 

 hitherto unbounded power ? 



In the discontent of the soldiers, however, 

 smouldered a spark, dangerous to the power of 

 the monks, which was suddenly blown into a 

 flame by a circumstance that occurred a few 

 years before our arrival. 



The only pleasure for which the baptized 

 Indians had ever been indebted to the monks 

 was the possession of such baubles as our sai 

 lors use in traffic with the South Sea islanders. 



