652 THE HISPANIC AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW 



even others, who should furnish a good example take slave women and 

 keep them as concubines. 106 



The Indian seamen who deserted at Acapulco, although married 

 in the Islands, did not hesitate to remarry in Mexico. 107 On the 

 Espiritu Santo in 1618, seventy-five Indians came as common 

 seamen, but not more than five returned.' 08 



In the Philippines, the king encouraged the marriage of poor 

 Spanish sailors with native women, and interested himself in the 

 provision of dowries for the Indian women for this very purpose. 109 

 His Catholic majesty also found it necessary to establish hospi- 

 tals, and provide physicians and care for both Indian and Spanish 

 sailors and seamen, whose poverty was such that they could not 

 provide for themselves. Said the king in his instructions to the 

 governor of the Philippines, 



. . . I have been told that . . . both of them suffer extreme 

 need; . . . Both classes die in discomfort, through having no 

 building in which to be protected from the ravages of the climate, and 

 through the lack of beds, food, medicines, nurses, and other necessities. 110 



Such was the type, and status of the men who manned the 

 galleons. 



Very early it was decreed that sailors and common seamen 

 should be examined before enlisting to determine their fitness for 

 the duties at sea. 111 This proved to be necessary for the reason 

 that often as many as half those listed as sailors on the galleon 

 were not sailors at all, but persons who had secured the position 

 through favoritism in order to gain passage, and to share in a 



105 Hernando de los Rios Coronel, [Reforms needed in the Philippines], (Madrid 

 1619?) . Translations of two documents in Blair and Robertson, XVIII . 289-309, 

 and XVIII. 309-342. See XVIII. 300,301. 



107 Pineda, op. cit., in Blair and Robertson, XVIII. 184. 



108 Ibid. 



109 Felipe II, Ynstruccion a Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, San Lorenzo, August 9, 

 1589. Translation in Blair and Robertson, VII. 141-172. See p. 157. 



110 Ibid., VII. 143, 144. 



11 Felipe II, and Felipe III, [Laws regarding navigation and commerce.], 

 June 14, 1583-July 25, 1609. Translation of excerpts in Blair and Robertson, 

 XXV. 23-37; XVII. 27-50. See Law XL, Blair and Robertson, XVII. 36. 



