Note 130 — San Agustin’s Letter on the Filipinos

60. But say to them, Buen provecho;130 for usually these losses are well retrieved when they row. They are horrifying and frightful in venting their anger, both against one another, and against the father ministers; and there would be so much to say in this that it would never be finished.131 They are able to make their complaints in such a manner and to such purpose that they persuade those who know most about their falsity and trickery that they are telling the truth. I remember that an alcalde of experience132 was heard to say, when the Indians came to him with complaints: Audivi auditionem tuam, et timui.133 There are usually Indians, both men and women, in the suburbs of Manila, who hire out as mourners in the manner of the mourners of the Hebrews, and such as were in style in Castilla in the time of the Cid. The authors of the quarrel go first into the house of some lawyer134 well known for his cleverness, who is one of those called in law rabulas,135 who do not know which is their right hand. These men keep books of formulas and of petitions directed against all the human race; for example, in this form, “suit against alcalde;” and then follow all the crimes and excesses that can be committed by alcaldes.136 The same thing is true of suits against ministers and curas, and in them is enclosed all possibility of irregular conduct. Then the said “smith of calumny,”137 as the Italian says, takes the names of the plaintiffs and defendants, and a few facts; and then puts it all in the book from beginning to end [de pe á pa], without omitting one iota. And this is not to speak uncertainly; for in the archives of the court will be found the chart which was discovered in the possession of a certain rabula named Silva, who, in addition to this had skill in counterfeiting royal decrees and documents.