This policy of regaling and feting the Indians appeared eminently successful. Tribes formerly hostile to the Floridians now seemed willing to form alliances and to aid the Spaniards in their attempt to maintain their foothold in the Southeast. Spanish prestige and influence over the natives, which had diminished so sharply during Queen Anne’s war, had seemingly been regained. In April, 1717, for example, 157 Lower Creeks, including 25 caciques, entered Saint Augustine to pledge their loyalty to Philip V and to receive as many tokens of the governor’s good will as they could obtain. Included in the delegation were most of the important Lower Creek leaders—Tsipacaya (Chipicasi or Seepeycoffee), nephew and heir to the gran emperor Brims; the ubiquitous Chiscalichisle, brother of Brims and Uchize chief, Tactipique of the truculent Talapuses; and Adrian, Christianized leader of the Apalachinos. Again Governor Ayala gave his visitors a reception worthy of their high positions. He plied the 25 chiefs with gifts and smoked the peace pipe with them. In an effort to aw the Indians and introduce them to the Christian religion, the governor led the Lower Creeks to the makeshift hermitage church to hear the most impressive Mass the curate could devise. Wine and rum flowed freely during the Indian visit, and in the end the chiefs promised everlasting allegiance to Spain. In return the governor promised the Lower Creeks military aid and pledged to educate the sons and heirs of their chiefs. [Note 23: Interim gov to king 4/18/1717]. These festivals in the Florida capital had become an essential part of the governor’s program to strengthen his bonds with the Indians, who seemed to hold the balance of power in the Southeast. Through liberal gifts, lavish banquets, rum, and promises of military aid, Corcoles, Olivera, and Ayala obtained professions of friendship from a large number of Indian tribes. Included among them were the Talapuses and Uchizes, two tribes noted for their savagery and brutality. The Indians enjoyed themselves in Saint Augustine. They liked the feasting, the drinking, the attention, and the presents which Chiscalichisle had discovered in 1715. Soon many of his fellow chiefs joined him in Saint Augustine, and visits became more frequent. (Tepaske GSF)