SPANISH SEAMEN IN THE NEW WORLD 653 



profitable trade. 112 And natives from the interior, ignorant of 

 the art of sailing, were often enrolled and shipped by the factor. 113 



The pay received by sailors in 1635 was reported to be 150 

 pesos per year and 30 gantas of cleaned rice per month for sailors; 

 Spanish common seamen received 100 pesos and 30 gantas of 

 rice; Indian common seamen received 48 pesos and 15 gantas of 

 rice. 114 In 1637 wages were higher, sailors receiving 175 pesos and 

 common seamen 60 and one half pesos. 115 Gemelli Careri in 

 1697 gave sailors' wages as 350 pieces of eight for voyage from 

 Manila to Acapulco and return. Seventy-five pieces of eight 

 were paid at Cavite as advance pay, which was customary; but 

 to prevent desertion at Acapulco, and insure return to Manila, 

 the remaining 275 pieces of eight were not paid until the return, 

 for as Gemelli Careri said, "if they had half, very few would 

 return to the Philippine islands for the rest". 116 



But it was found that wages alone were inadequate. A royal 

 decree had declared that seamen should carry no more boxes or 

 clothing than indispensably necessary, for the reason that they 

 unduly cumbered the ships. In the boxes of course was mer- 

 chandise carried as a private investment. 117 But officials in the 

 Philippines protested that wages were insufficient incentive, that 

 greater zeal and willingness to render loyal service would be 

 secured if the men had a stake in the treasure ships, and that 

 more Spaniards would be brought into the service of the Acapulco 

 trade. 118 Accordingly permission was granted to carry small 

 amounts, the exact amount to be allowed being a bone of con- 



113 Los Rios, op. cit., in Blair and Robertson, XVIII. 298. 

 113 /fa'd., pp.299, 300. 



114 Hurtado de Corcuera, op. cit., in Blair and Robertson, XXVI. 206. 



115 Juan Grau y Monfalcon, Memorial informatorio al rey nuestro senor en sv 

 real y svpremo conseio de las Indias. . . . Sobre las pretensiones de aqvella 

 comercio con la A ueva Espana (Madrid, 1637) . Translation in Blair and Robert- 

 son, XXVII. 55-212. Seep. 130. 



116 Gemelli Careri, op. cit., in Churchill, IV. 463. 



117 Felipe II, and Felipe III, supra, Law LII, in Blair and Robertson, XVII. 

 48, 49. 



113 Licientiate Crist6bal Tellez de Almazen, Carta de la Audiencia, Manila, 

 July 6, 1606. Translation in Blair and Robertson, XIV. 140-148. See p. 145. 

 Also, Alvarez de Abreu, op. cit., in Blair and Robertson, XLIV. 271, 307. 



