_ 207 _ for what service they were given in order that they might know that Your Highness will be aware of the said gifts and by what manner they were recommended for them. Your Highness should also make an order for a register, a book in which would be recorded all the salaries that the governors pay of above fifty pardaos, and in the same way every salary that was ordered to be paid and transferred. Each year they should send him a book of these payments of salaries, which would put a stop to much disorder. The abovementioned decrees should come with the proviso that no governor has the power to disregard them. These decrees should not come directed to governors but to the Vedor da Fazenda, in order that they may be registered in his office and delivered to whomsoever they appertain, and in order that they may comply he may seek out suitable persons for these charges, because here they only look for posts for each to give to his associates. In this way this land is taking me to the point where I ask pardon, Sir. For fifteen years up till now there has not been a factor who gave an account, and all were subverted and imprisoned, leaving Your Highness with the loss of much of his property, which would have been a great help to this land. The reasons why these men and your property were lost I will make known in the following.
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