residence, yet abstain from visiting his villages without special permit from the lieutenant of the district, partly on moral grounds, partly to prevent abuses, which might also react to imperil the life of the visitor.[1] In pursuance of this measure, it was forbidden to take away women, and boys under twelve years, to work on plantations.
In order to bring forth a steady revenue, plantations were to be established near the villages and towns, and cultivated by the Indians of the repartimiento. These were to be summoned in squads, each for a period not exceeding twenty days,[2] their departure and return being noted by the lieutenant of the district. The working hours were from sunrise till one hour before sunset, with an hour at noon for rest. Dismissed men could not be summoned again within thirty days. While employed they must be given necessary food, and every year merchandise to the munificent amount of half a peso de oro.[3] In return for the service thus obtained, the encomendero must promote the conversion and civilization of his people, first by placing the sons of the caciques, or representative men in his district, in charge of friars or curates to be educated. This step was promoted by the sovereign himself in offering to provide for the education of a certain number in Spain, though little came of it.[4] Second, by erecting a church 1m the towns, and
- ↑ Travellers often disappeared as Camargo affirms, Hist. Tlax., 181; sad it was found necessary to make the caciques responsible for their safety. Their hospitalities were generally free, although in royal orders relating to the protection of native women, and abuses, even native governors were at last enjoined to take nothing from natives without payment. Montemayor, Sumarios, 163. This law was also directed against vagrants.
- ↑ The later rule was to apportion 10 Indians for every 100 during 20 weeks of the year, and two per cent for the remaining weeks. These squads were called respectively dobla and sencilla, terms corresponding to two coins. Leon, Trat. Encomiendas, 5.
- ↑ Laborers would hardly need more than a loin-cloth for ordinary days, and but little for gala days, so that the amount is after all not so ridiculous.
- ↑ The offer was made by letter of November 9, 1526, prompted perhaps by Albornoz' suggestion to impress leading natives with the grandeur of Spain. Several children died, and the parents objected to sending them so far, and thus the project failed. Puga, Cedulario, 19, 21; Mendieta, Hist. Ecles., 482; Albornoz, Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 72.
