They should be paid a ducat or twelve reals a month, or even less.
Arms and supplies needed First: Besides the regular arms to be brought by the soldiers from Espana, there should be, for emergency, a number of coats of mail, and arquebuses; and, above all, five hundred muskets and three or four thousand pikes, a thousand corselets, and a thousand Burgundian morions from Nueva Espana.
Second: Good flints and locks for the arquebuses can be had here cheaply; but the barrels must be brought from Espana, and should be all of one bore, so that the same bullets may be furnished for them.
Third: From China we can procure very cheaply copper, saltpeter, and bullets; and in this island are ample mines of copper and sulphur, [44] and all the requisites can be bought cheaply at various places.

It is said that the necessary tin and saltpeter can be obtained cheaply and in abundance.
Fourth: There must be brought from Yndia two thousand quintals of cordage, which will cost two thousand pesos or as many ducats.

This will make a saving of considerable money, and at the same time the cordage will not arrive frayed and worn out by the hard journey from Vera Cruz to Mexico and thence to Acapulco, over mountains, valleys, and rivers.

The anchors and necessary grappling tackle should be brought from the same country, together with the slaves already mentioned.
Fifth: From Nueva Espana should be brought cloth (gray and other colors, and mixed) for the protection of the troops in seasons of rain and storm, for the country is rather cold and very wet.

_Item:_ there should be blankets and garments for the sick, and other necessaries.
Sixth: Have his Majesty send two hundred thousand pesos to cover and provide for these and many other things, and pay the Japanese, and other incidental expenses.
Seventh: Have the commander of the expedition bring a number of presents to win over some of the mandarins and other persons of importance; and for this have brought from Espana velvets, scarlet cloths, mirrors, articles of glass, coral, plumes, oil paintings, feather-work, globes, and other curiosities, and some red and white wine for the same purpose.
What can be and is provided for here in the islands That his Majesty may understand that his subjects truly wish to serve him in this country in so important an undertaking, and that he may grasp more clearly what is being done and provided for here, it is described in the following.
First: At the meeting of the junta here, consisting of the president, auditors and fiscal, with the bishop and other persons before mentioned, when this project was discussed, all decided that so serious a matter, and one of such possibilities, should not be put off with no more action than sending immediately to discuss it with his Majesty; the necessary preparations were commenced here at once, and it was universally resolved with considerable enthusiasm and serious purpose, that, on account of the lack of money in the royal treasury, and the country being so impoverished by the previous fires and the loss of the ship, they would draw from the money of intestates held for heirs [_caxa de difuntos_], of which there was about ten or twelve thousand pesos, and thus begin the work.