X and XI. The first part is entitled "Relation of
the customs which the Indians were accustomed to observe in these
islands; written by Fray Joan de Placencia, and sent to Doctor Stiago
de Vera, former president of the royal Audiencia which resided in
these islands." This is signed with Plasencia's name. The second
part, headed as below, bears no signature, but is doubtless by
Plasencia. From their appearance in the body of the above document,
it is probable that the Audiencia considered them in assembly. Both
these reports were written by Plasencia at the command of the governor
or of the Audiencia, in order that the local Spanish magistrates
might be guided by the customs of the natives in deciding matters
of law or justice among the Indians. The first part, omitted here,
is the same, with a few verbal changes, as the relation published in
_Vol_. VII. pp. 173-185; but it is dated, "Narcan, October twenty-four,
one thousand five hundred and eighty-nine" (but this may have been
an error of the clerk of the Audiencia).
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