[Illustration: _The first buildings in St. Augustine were of wooden boards, with roofs of thatched palmetto leaves held down by stringers._] The principal officers of the colony consisted of the governor, who was its chief executive; the royal treasurer, who was custodian of the royal funds and their disbursement; and the _factor_, who distributed the supplies. A sergeant-major was in command of the infantry and succeeded the governor in case of the latter’s death or resignation. A minor but important official, from the standpoint of historians, was the _Escribano_ (writer), who kept a record of meetings, handled correspondence, took the testimony of witnesses, and acted as a notary public. The governors of Florida were appointed by the King in distant Spain from a list of candidates proposed by the Council of the Indies. They were usually men of previous military experience, and served generally for a term of six years. When a new governor arrived at St. Augustine to take office, Indian chiefs trooped in from the outlying districts to pledge their friendship and allegiance. They were entertained as elaborately as the resources of the settlement would permit, given trinkets and food for the long journey home. Although relatively small in size, St. Augustine was the capital and citadel of a vast area. La Florida then as claimed by Spain embraced not only the present peninsula, but the entire Atlantic coast as far north as Canada and as far inland as the continent was known to exist. For a time after the expulsion of the French Huguenots, no other European nation seriously challenged this claim, but the clouds of strife were beginning to appear. [Illustration: _A pamphlet, designed to attract English settlers, described Carolina as being “On the Coasts of Floreda”._] A Brief Description OF The Province OF CAROLINA _On the_ Coasts _of_ FLOREDA AND More perticularly of a _New-Plantation_ begun by the _ENGLISH_ at _Cape-Feare_, on that River now by them called _Charles-River_, the 29^th of _May_. 1664. _Wherein is set forth_ The _Healthfulness_ of the Air; the _Fertility_ of the _Earth_, and _Waters_; and the great _Pleasure_ and _Profit_ will accrue to those that shall go thither to enjoy the same. _Also_, Directions and advice to such as shall go thither whether on their own accompts, or to serve under another. _Together with_ A most accurate _MAP_ of the whole _PROVINCE_. _London_, Printed for _Robert Horne_ in the first Court of _Gresham-Colledge_ neer _Bishopsgate street_, 1666.