There were other servants for whom [the royal officials] felt no comparable responsibility [compared to slaves]. Repartimiento Indians cleared the land and planted the communal and private maize fields with digging sticks and hoes, guarding the crop from crows and wild animals. Ordered up by the governor, selected by their chiefs, and administered by the royal officials, they lived in huts outside the town and were given a short ration of maize and now and then a small blanket or a knife for themselves and some axes and hoes. During the construction of the castillo as many as 300 Indians at a time were working in St. Augustine. [Note 45: Gov. Mendez de Canzo 9/22/1602; Recopilacion de leyes de los Reynos de las Indias 1681; Francisco de San Buenaventura, Bishop of Tricale 4/29/1736; Fr. Alonso del Moral, seen in Council 11/23/1676; Gov. Marques Cabrera 12/8/1680; Bartolome de Arguelles 10/21/1598; Gov. Salinas 11/20/1618; Fr. Antonio de Somoza 5/2/1673.] In an attempt to stop the escalation of building costs, their wages were fixed at so many blankets or tools per week, with ornaments for small change. Indians were not supposed to be used for personal service but they often were, especially if for some misdeed they had been sentenced to extra labor. Commissary General Juan Luengo declared that everyone of importance in Florida had his service Indians and so had all his kinsmen and friends. [Note 46: Recop 5/7/1570; Council 9/25/1662, appended to Gov. Aranguiz y Cotes 11/15/1661; Chiefs of Guale 10/16/1657; Juan Menendez Marquez II 1/25/1667; Fr. Juan Luengo 11/30/1676, attached to an answering a memorial by Fr. Alonso del Moral, summarized 11/5/1676.] AN416 If one of these natives sickened and died he could be replaced with another. (Bushnell KC)