the moravians in georgia-第10章

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　the　Moravian　Congregation　at　Savannah；　and　that　he　would　at　once　apply　to　the　Trustees　to　vest　the　title　in　that　body；　and　if　he　left　Georgia　before　this　was　accomplished　he　would　give　a　full　Power　of　Attorney　to　Toeltschig。　From　the　first　his　land　had　been　used　as　the　common　property　of　the　party；　and　he　desired　that　the　nine　men；　who；　with　him；　were　bound　to　the　repayment　of　the　60　Pounds；　borrowed　from　the　Trustees；　should　have　the　use　of　it　until　that　obligation　was　met；　and　then　it　should　be　used　as　the　Savannah　Congregation　thought　best。

Nitschmann's　land　seems　to　have　been　held　in　a　different　way；　although　granted　at　the　same　time；　and　under　similar　circumstances。　July　11th；　Spangenberg　sent　him　a　detailed　description　of　the　town　and　garden　lots；　explaining　the　advantages　and　difficulties　of　cultivation；　suggesting　several　methods　by　which　it　could　be　done；　and　giving　the　approximate　cost；　urging　that　instructions　be　sent　as　to　his　wishes。　　Later　he　wrote　that　the　company　had　decided　not　to　wait　for　Nitschmann's　reply；　but　to　clear　the　garden　on　the　terms　usual　in　Georgia；　e。g。；　that　the　man　who　cleared　a　piece　of　ground　held　it　rent　free　for　seven　years；　when　it　reverted　to　the　owner。　This　had　been　done；　and　the　garden　was　ready　to　plant　and　fence；　and　if　Nitschmann　approved　they　intended　to　clear　the　farm；　and　would　build　a　small　house　on　the　town　lot。　　Zinzendorf　had　suggested　that　negroes　be　employed　on　Nitschmann's　land；　but　at　that　time　slavery　was　prohibited　in　Georgia；　and　any　negroes　who　ran　away　from　Carolina　were　at　once　returned　to　their　masters。

The　two　farms　lay　side　by　side　about　four　miles　from　Savannah；　the　gardens；　also　adjoining；　were　about　two　miles　from　town；　so　it　was　necessary　to　build　cabins　at　both　places；　as　shelters　from　sun　and　storm；　which　the　settlers　found　equally　trying。　Two　additional　cabins　had　been　built　in　Savannah　on　Spangenberg's　lot；　and　by　the　end　of　the　year　a　house；　thirty…four　by　eighteen　feet　in　size；　was　under　roof；　though　not　yet　finished。　　This　gave　an　abundance　of　room；　not　only　for　themselves；　but　for　the　second　company　to　whose　arrival　they　were　looking　forward　with　such　eagerness。

When　this　reinforcement　came　they　hoped　to　move　to　Zinzendorf's　tract；　and　then；　as　soon　as　they　could　be　spared；　Demuth；　Haberecht；　Waschke　and　the　two　Haberlands　wished　to　claim　the　twenty　acres　apiece　which　the　Trustees　had　promised　to　the　Count's　〃servants〃。　Riedel　was　of　the　same　mind；　but　he　did　not　live　to　see　the　arrival　of　the　second　company。　　Some　months　after　reaching　Georgia；　he　was　dangerously　ill　with　fever；　but　passed　the　crisis　successfully；　and　recovered　his　full　strength。　　He　was　one　of　the　party　who　went　to　survey　Zinzendorf's　tract；　but　was　taken　sick　again　three　days　after　the　boat　left　Savannah；　and　by　the　time　they　returned　he　was　obliged　to　go　to　bed；　and　soon　became　delirious。　The　other　Moravians　were　greatly　distressed；　but　could　do　nothing　except　nurse　him　carefully　and　pray　for　him　earnestly；　and　toward　the　end　his　mind　cleared；　though　his　body　had　lost　the　power　to　recuperate。　He　died　on　the　30th　of　September；　the　first　Moravian　to　〃fall　asleep〃　in　the　United　States；　though　others　had　given　up　their　lives　for　the　mission　work　in　the　West　Indies。　　His　spiritual　condition　had　at　times　caused　much　concern　to　Toeltschig；　who　was　especially　charged　with　the　religious　welfare　of　the　first　company；　many　of　whom　had　been　under　his　care　in　Germany；　but　in　the　main　he　had　been　an　earnest　man；　a　willing　and　industrious　partaker　in　the　common　toil；　and　his　death　caused　much　regret。　　The　burial　customs　in　Savannah　included　the　ringing　of　bells；　a　funeral　sermon；　and　a　volley　of　musketry；　but　learning　that　these　ceremonies　were　not　obligatory　the　Moravians　declined　the　offer　of　the　citizens　to　so　honor　their　Brother；　and　laid　him　to　rest　in　the　Savannah　cemetery　with　a　simple　service　of　hymns　and　prayer。

As　they　were　robing　Riedel　for　his　burial；　a　young　man　came　to　the　door；　and　asked　if　he　could　not　make　them　some　pewter　spoons。　　In　the　conversations　that　followed　it　developed　that　he　was　a　native　of　Switzerland；　the　son　of　a　physician；　and　after　his　father's　death　he　had　sailed　for　Pennsylvania；　intending　there　to　begin　the　practice　of　medicine。　But　his　fellow…passengers　stole　his　books　and　everything　he　had；　he　was　unable　to　pay　for　his　transportation；　and　forced　to　sell　his　service　for　seven　years　as　a　redemptioner。　　At　the　end　of　five　years　he　had　become　quite　ill；　and　his　master；　having　waited　six　months　for　his　recovery；　heartlessly　turned　him　out；　to　live　or　die　as　the　case　might　be。　　Instead　of　dying；　his　strength　returned；　and　then　his　former　master　demanded　10　Pounds　Pennsylvania　currency；　for　his　unexpired　term；　although　only　5　Pounds　had　been　paid　for　him；　and　he　had　served　five　years。　　The　young　man　was　obliged　to　promise　to　pay　this；　and　Spangenberg　encouraged　him　to　push　his　spoon…making；　in　order　to　do　it　as　speedily　as　possible。　　Meanwhile　the　Moravians　were　so　much　pleased　with　his　appearance　and　speech；　that　they　agreed　to　receive　him　into　their　company　for　as　long　as　he　chose　to　stay；　and　John　Regnier　soon　became　an　important　factor　in　their　comfort。　Spiritually　he　was　somewhat　at　sea。　　At　one　time　he　had　desired　to　be　a　hermit；　and　then　he　had　drifted　from　one　sect　to　another；　seeking　something　which　he　could　not　find；　but　acquiring　a　medley　of　odd　customs。　Spangenberg　advised　him　to　turn　his　thoughts　from　men　to　God；　learning　from　Him　〃what　was　better　and　higher；　Faith；　Love；　Hope；　etc。〃；　and　under　the　Moravian　influence　he　gradually　laid　aside　his　unwise　fancies；　giving　them　encouragement　to　believe　that　he　would　eventually　come　into　the　clearer　light；　as　they　knew　it。

In　material　things　John　Regnier　was　of　great　assistance；　owing　to　his　ability　to　turn　his　hand　to　almost　anything。　　The　shoes　of　the　party　were　badly　torn；　but　though　they　had　brought　leather　and　tools　from　England　none　of　them　knew　the　cobbler's　trade。　　John　Regnier　had　never　made　a　shoe；　but　he　took　it　up；　and　soon　provided　for　them　all；　and　then　he　mended　their　clothing；　and　added　new　garments。　　He　also　showed　much　aptitude　for　nursing；　and　Spangenberg　put　him　in　charge　of　several　cases。　A　man　from　a　neighboring　village　sent　word　that　he　had　severed　an　artery　and　could　not　check　the　bleeding；　and　asked　for　help。　　Regnier　went　to　him；　and　was　so　successful　in　his　treatment　that　in　two　weeks　the　man　was　entirely　restored。　　Some　one　discovered　a　poor　Scotchman；　dying　with　dropsy；　lying　utterly　neglected　upon　the　floor　of　a　miserable　hut；　and　appeal　was　made　to　the　Moravians　to　take　him　and　care　for　him。　They　did　so；　moving　him　to　one　of　their　cabins；　where　they　made　him　a　bed；　and　Regnier　nursed　him　until　death　ended　his　sufferings。　Another　man　had　high　fever；　and　no　friends；　and　him　also　the　Moravians　took；　and　cared　for；　the　Trustee's　agent　furnishing　food　and　medicine　for　the　sick；　but　offering　no　recompense　for　the　care　they　received。

Indeed；　as　the　months　passed　by；　the　Moravians　established　a　reputation　for　charity　and　for　hospitality。　　Not　only　had　they　kept　free　of　dispute　with　the　Salzburgers；　but　the　friendliest　relations　existed；　and　the　Moravian　cabins　were　always　open　to　them　when　they　came　to　Savannah。　Nor　were　they　slow　to　avail　themselves　of　the　kindness。　Gronau　and　Bolzius　often　lodged　with　them；　and　others　came　in　groups　of　nine　or　ten　to　spend　the　night。　　During　the　evening　stories　would　be　exchanged　as　to　their　circumstances　in　the　home　lands；　and　their　reasons　for　leaving　there；　and　then　sometimes　the　hosts　would　spread　hay　upon　the　floor　for　their　guests；　at　other　times　give　up　their　own　beds；　and　themselves　sleep　upon　the　floor。

With　their　nearer　neighbors　in　Savannah；　they　were　also　upon　cordial　terms；　though　they　found　few　who　cared　for　religious　things。　　The　Jews　were　particularly　courteous　to　them；　inviting　Spangenberg　into　their　Synagogue；　and　bringing　gifts　of　meat　and　fish　on　several　occasions　when　help　was　sorely　needed　on　account　of　the　illness　of　some　of　their　number；　　for　Riedel　was　not　the　only　one　who　was　seriously　ill；　though　no　others　died。　All　the　conditions　in　Georgia　were　so　different　from　what　they　were　accustomed　to　in　Germany　that　it　took　them　some　time　to　adapt　themselves；　and　longer　to　become　really　acclimated；　and　they　noticed　that　the　same　was　true　of　all　new…comers。　All　of　the　Moravians　were　sick　in　turn；　many　suffering　from　frosted　feet；　probably　injured　on　the　voyage　over；　but　Spangenberg；　Toeltschig；　Haberecht　and　Demuth　were　dangerously　ill。　　Nearly　all　of　the　medicine　brought　from　Europe　was　gone；　and　what　they　could　get　in　Savannah　was　expensive　and　they　did　not　understand　how　to　use　it；　so　they　were　forced　to　depend　on　careful　nursing　and　simple　remedies。　Turpentine　could　easily　be　secured　from　the　pines；　Spangenberg　found　an　herb　which　he　took　to　be　camomile；　which　had　a　satisfactory　effect；　and　with　the　coming　of　the　cooler　autumn　weather　most　of　the　party　recovered　their　health。

Probably　the　food　was　partly　responsible　for　their　troubles；　though　they　tried　to　be　careful；　and　cooked　everything　thoroughly。　Rice　and　salt…meat　were　their　chief　articles　of　diet；　for　bread　cost　so　much　that　they　soon　gave　it　up　entirely；　substituting　cornmeal　mush；　and　butter　was　so　dear　as　to　be　entirely　out　of　the　question。　During　the　summer　months　which　preceded　the　harvest；　they　could　get　neither　corn；　rice　nor　beans　at　the　store；　so　lived　on　mush；　salt…meat；　and　the　beans　they　themselves　had　planted。　　Fresh　meat　was　a　great　treat；　particularly　when　it　enabled　them　to　prepare　nourishing　broth　for　their　sick；　and　once　Rose　shot　a　stag；　giving　them　several　good　meals；　but　this　happened　so　seldom　as　to　do　little　toward　varying　the　monotony　of　their　fare。

Drinking　water　was　held　to　be　responsible　for　the　swollen　feet　and　nausea　from　which　many　of　them　suffered；　so　they　made　a　kind　of　sassafras　beer；　which　proved　palatable　and　healthful；　and　used　it　until　they　had　become　accustomed　to　the　climate；　when　they　were　able　to　drink　the　water。

When　the　Moravians　came　to　Georgia　they　brought　with　them　a　little　ready　money；　the　gift　of　English　friends；　and　their　cash　payments　secured　them　good　credit　at　the　Trustees'　store。　Other　merchants　sought　their　patronage；　but　they　decided　to　run　an　account　at　one　place　only；　and　thought　Mr。　Causton；　as　the　Trustees'　agent；　would　give　them　the　most　liberal　treatment。　　Their　hardest　time　financially；　as　well　as　regarding　health；　was　during　the　summer；　when　credit　came　to　be　accorded　grudgingly；　and　finally　Spangenberg；　personally；　borrowed　15　Pounds　sterling；　and　applied　it　on　their　account；　which　restored　their　standing　in　Mr。　Causton's　eyes。　　On　Feb。　8th；　1736；　they　decided　to　buy　enough　corn；　rice　and　salt…meat　to　last　until　harvest；　having　learned　by　sad　experience　how　very　dear　these　necessities　were　later　in　the　year。　　Very　little　work　had　been　done　which　brought　in　ready　money；　for　their　time　had　been　fully　occupied　in　building　their　house　and　clearing　the　land；　but　all　things　were　prepared　for　the　coming　of　the　second　company；　with　whose　assistance　they　expected　to　accomplish　much。　In　February　the　two　carpenters　were　engaged　to　build　a　house　for　Mr。　Wagner；　a　Swiss　gentleman　who　had　recently　arrived；　and　r