Remedies for the Religious Ills of Florida Suggestions for changes within the Franciscan order and in the conduct of missionary work had already come from former Governor Benavides in Vera Cruz. He proposed that all loyal Spanish Indians be consolidated into one or two towns, where they would be taught Castilian. This measure, he stated, would greatly increase the effectiveness of those friars still laboring in Florida. During his 16 years in the governorship, Franciscans had always taught Christian doctrine in Indian languages, which they learned from old vocabularies compiled in the 17th century. But continuation of this policy, Benavides believed, was not feasible in present circumstances. Only a few Indians still remained under Spanish control, and among these few Apalaches, Timucuans, Yamasees, and Lower Creeks there was no common language. With only a handful of Indians from each tribe being served by the Franciscans, it would be far easier for the Indians to learn Castilian than for the friars to waste their time learning a multitude of Indian dialects. Reduced to one or two villages, the natives could easily be instructed in Spanish. This consolidation, he believed, would also insure more efficiency in the functioning of the mission program. Unable to resist the opportunity to praise his own administration—the penchant of most Spanish administrators—Benavides smugly pointed out that during his tenure as governor the friars had eaten, worked, and slept among the natives. They had not retired to the town each night, the current practice in Saint Augustine. [Note 113: Informe del gobernador de Vera Cruz, Antonio de Benavides, 4/28/1738] (Tepaske GSF)