The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 22, July 1918 - April, 1919 Page: 27

Acapulco and the Manila Galleon 27
factor, and was the purchasing agent of the port. As such his
most serious task was the supplying of the galleon with arms,
provisions, and other ship's supplies for the return voyage. The
contador, on the other hand, was more directly responsible for the
auditing or certification of the register and other papers pertaining
to the cargo of the galleon, whether that of the incoming nao or
the silver for the return voyage.4"
The most important of the third class of functionaries was
probably the guardamayor, or chief officer of the port. He had
immediate charge of the guards who served on shore and on the
galleon when in port. IIe carried out the orders of the castellan
and of the royal officials, and was particularly the executive officer
of the court over which the former might preside in his capacity
as alcalde mayor.44 The escribano de real hacienda was the chief
clerk of the contaduria or tribunal de cuenias composed of the
oficiales reales. In accordance with his notarial authority lie
countersigned all the important official records of transactions.
The comisario de guias issued the licenses for the transport of the
silks and other goods to points inland.
Ecclesiastical authority at Acapulco was wielded by a parish
priest or cura. "The Curate," says Gemelli Careri, "tho' the
King's allowance to him be but 180 pieces of Eight, makes 14,000
a Year, exacting a great rate for burying of strangers, not only
that die at Acapulco, but at Sea aboard the Ships from China and
Peru; as for instance he will expect 1000 pieces of Eight for a rich
Merchant.""4
The proceedings which attended the reception of the Manila.
Galleon, the disposal of her cargo, and the preparations for her
return as the Acapulco Galleon, were regulated with as great
minuteness of detail as accompanied the operations at Manila.
Especially complete were the provisions of the Adiciones drawn up
in 1.769 after Gilvez' peremptory reorganization of the Acapulco
administration and after the disclosures made by the visitor-general
of conditions at the port had reached the notice of the central gov-
ernment.46 All the regulations contained in these amendments to
43Leyes, op. cit.
"Alitodo, op. cit., pp. 156-68.
4"Gemelli, op. cit., p. 503.
64Adiciones, op. cit.