The Spaniards made feeble attempts to counter English activities among the Indians. In 1737, acting under royal orders, the governor of Cuba sent Captain Alonso de Toro and a “perspicacious” Indian guide named Juan Ignacio into the Lower Creek country to seek new alliances and to promote trade. Toro made both promises and threats. In a conference with a group of Lower Creek chiefs, Toro pledged powder, shot, cloth, rum, and other articles in return for Indian pledges of everlasting obedience to Philip V and Governor Montiano. At the same time Toro threatened to punish as a traitor any Indian who broke such a pledge by negotiating or trading with the English. [Note 58: gov of Cuba to Marques de Torrenueva 4/14/1738] Toro had little success. The Indians refused to accept a Spanish alliance and openly declared their doubt that the Spaniards could furnish them the commodities promised by their Indian agents. [Note 59: Oglethorpe to Duke of Newcastle, Frederica 11/20/1738. Not long after Toro left the banks of the Chattahoochee, four Caveta chiefs entered Frederica, asking for supplies and offering an alliance in return.] Besides, the Indians found it more to their interests to court both the Spanish and the English and to receive benefits from both sides. Permanent alliances simply were not to their best interests. (Tepaske GSF)