the moravians in georgia-第9章

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　　Aim　and　Attainment。

When　the　〃first　company〃　left　Herrnhut　for　London　and　the　New　World；　they　took　with　them　Count　Zinzendorf's　formal　〃Instructions〃　for　the　conduct　of　their　affairs：

〃I　shall　not　attempt　to　tell　you　what　you　are　to　do　from　day　to　day。　I　know　that　in　many　ways　Love　will　lead　you；　prepare　the　way；　and　point　out　your　path。　　I　shall　only　bid　you　remember　the　principles　and　customs　of　our　Congregation；　in　which；　if　you　stand　fast；　you　will　do　well。　　Your　one　aim　will　be　to　establish　a　little　place　near　the　heathen　where　you　may　gather　together　the　dispersed　in　Israel；　patiently　win　back　the　wayward；　and　instruct　the　heathen　tribes。

〃You　have　and　will　ask　nothing　more　than　the　opportunity　to　attain　this　end　through　your　own　labors；　but　you　will　request　free　transportation　for　yourselves　and　those　who　will　follow　you；　　if　they　receive　your　present　small　number　the　Lord　will　send　you　more。

〃If　you　should　be　tempted　to　injure　any　work　of　the　Lord　for　my　sake；　refrain　from　doing　it；　remembering　that　I　am　under　a　gracious　guardianship　which　nothing　can　disturb。

〃You　will　take　absolutely　no　part　in　the　Spangenberg…Halle　controversy；　you　know　the　mind　of　the　Congregation　regarding　it。　　If　you　find　people　prejudiced　against　you　leave　it　to　Him　who　has　bidden　you　go　to　Georgia。　Enter　into　no　disputes；　but；　if　questions　are　asked；　give　the　history　of　the　Congregation；　being　careful　not　to　censure　our　opposers；　and　saying；　which　is　true；　that　the　Congregation　at　Herrnhut　gives　them　little　heed。　Entire　freedom　of　conscience　must　be　granted　you；　but　there　may　be　points　which　you　can　yield　without　injuring　the　cause　of　Christ；　　if　so　you　will　find　them　in　due　time。

〃You　must　live　alone；　establishing　your　own　little　corner；　where　your　customs　will　irritate　no　one；　and　as　soon　as　you　are　settled　an　ordained　minister　will　be　sent　you；　out　of　consideration　for　the　scruples　of　the　Salzburgers；　although　our　Brethren　in　other　Colonies　are　served　by　laymen；　as　permitted　by　our　ancient　constitution。

〃God　willing；　I　shall　soon　follow　you；　and　only　wait　until　He　opens　the　way　for　me。　　Our　dear　Elder　（Spangenberg）　will　quickly　return　from　America；　and　in　his　absence　I　commit　you　to　the　mighty　grace　of　God。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Your　brother　and　servant；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Lewis　Count　v。　Zinzendorf。

〃At　this　time　one　of　the　Elders　at　Herrnhut。　　November　27th；　1734。

　　〃‘He　everywhere　hath　way；　　　And　all　things　serve　His　might；　etc。'〃

That　these　sensible　and　liberal　instructions　were　not　fully　carried　out　is　at　once　apparent；　especially　in　the　two　points　of　free　transportation　and　settlement　in　a　quiet；　secluded　spot。　　The　inability　of　the　Trustees　to　grant　their　request　for　the　first；　burdened　the　Moravian　colonists　with　what　was；　under　the　circumstances；　a　heavy　debt；　while　the　location　of　Zinzendorf's　five　hundred　acre　tract　was　responsible　for　their　failure　in　attaining　the　second。

When　Gen。　Oglethorpe　planned　the　fortifications　and　defense　of　Savannah　in　1733；　he　decided　to　erect　a　small　fort　on　the　Ogeechee　River；　some　miles　south；　in　order　to　command　one　of　the　trails　by　which　the　Indians　had　been　accustomed　to　invade　Carolina。　　This　〃Fort　Argyle〃　was　garrisoned　with　a　detachment　of　rangers；　and　ten　families　were　sent　from　Savannah　to　cultivate　the　adjacent　land。　　The　tract　selected　in　London　for　Count　Zinzendorf；　was　to　lie　on　the　Ogeechee；　near　Fort　Argyle；　an　excellent　place　from　which　to　reach　the　Indians　in　times　of　peace；　but　the　worst　possible　location　for　noncombatants　when　war　was　threatening。

Spangenberg　urged　the　survey　of　the　five　hundred　acre　tract　as　often　and　as　strongly　as　he　dared；　but　from　various　causes；　chiefly　rumors　of　Indian　incursions；　the　expedition　was　deferred　until　Aug。　22nd；　when　Spangenberg；　Toeltschig；　Riedel；　Seifert；　Rose；　Michael　Haberland；　and　Mr。　Johnson；　the　Trustees'　surveyor；　prepared　to　start　on　their　toilsome　journey；　going　by　boat；　instead　of　attempting　to　follow　the　circuitous；　ill…marked　road　across　the　country；　impassable　to　pedestrians；　though　used　to　some　extent　by　horsemen。

At　one　o'clock　in　the　morning　of　Aug。　23rd　the　seven　men　embarked；　taking　advantage　of　the　ebbing　tide；　and　made　their　way　down　the　Savannah　River。　　It　was　very　dark；　the　Moravians　were　unaccustomed　to　rowing；　and　Mr。　Johnson；　who　steered；　went　to　sleep　time　after　time；　so　when　they　accidentally　came　across　a　ship　riding　at　anchor　they　decided　to　stay　by　her　and　wait　for　the　day。　　When　dawn　broke　they　hastened　on　to　Thunderbolt；　where　a　fort　had　been　built；　and　some　good　land　cleared；　and　there　they　found　two　Indians；　who　claimed　to　know　the　country；　and　agreed　to　go　with　them　as　pilots。　Toward　evening　they　reached　Seituah*；　where　a　stockade　was　being　built　as　a　protection　against　the　Indians；　and　the　night　was　spent　with　a　Captain　Wargessen　（Ferguson）；　who；　with　several　soldiers；　was　out　in　a　scout　boat　watching　the　movements　of　the　Indians　and　Spaniards　in　that　neighborhood。

　*　On　Skidaway　Island；　exact　site　unknown。　

The　next　day　they　made　their　way　among　the　islands　until　they　reached　the　mouth　of　the　Ogeechee；　up　which　they　turned；　but　night　overtook　them；　and　they　were　forced　to　drop　their　anchor。　　The　Indians　had　been　left　behind　somewhere；　and　with　the　return　of　day　it　became　necessary　to　retrace　their　course　for　some　hours　in　order　to　learn　where　they　were。　That　night　was　spent　at　Sterling's　Bluff；　with　the　Scotch　who　had　settled　upon　it；　and　the　next　morning　they　proceeded　to　Fort　Argyle。　As　they　rowed　up　the　river；　a　bear　left　one　of　the　islands；　and　swam　across　to　the　main　land。　　〃He　was　better　to　us　than　we　to　him；　for　Peter　shot　at　him　twice　when　he　came　near　us；　but　he　left　us　in　peace　and　went　his　way！〃

The　following　morning　Spangenberg　and　Johnson；　accompanied　by　the　Lieutenant　from　Fort　Argyle　and　several　of　his　rangers；　rode　out　to　inspect　the　land　selected　for　the　Moravians。　The　horses　were　accustomed　to　service　against　the　Indians；　and　went　at　full　gallop；　pausing　not　for　winding　paths　or　fallen　trees；　and　the　University…bred　man　of　Germany　expected　momentarily　to　have　his　neck　broken；　but　nothing　happened；　and　after　looking　over　the　tract　they　returned　to　Fort　Argyle。

Despite　the　exertions　of　the　morning　Spangenberg　then　manned　his　boat；　and　started　up　the　river　to　visit　an　Indian　town；　where　he　hoped　to　find　Tomochichi。　　Much　floating　timber　rendered　the　trip　dangerous　and　tedious；　and　it　was　not　until　early　Sunday　morning　that　they　reached　their　destination；　only　to　find　the　place　deserted；　as　the　band　had　left　a　few　days　before　for　a　hunting　expedition；　and；　if　fortune　favored　them；　for　a　brush　with　the　Spanish　Indians；　with　whom　they　had　a　perpetual　feud。　　Soon　Johnson　appeared；　guided　by　some　of　the　rangers；　who；　after　a　hearty　meal　with　the　Moravians；　returned　to　the　Fort；　Johnson　remaining　behind。

Monday　morning；　August　29th；　before　the　sun　rose；　the　party　repaired　to　the　Moravian　tract；　which　Johnson　surveyed；　the　Moravians　acting　as　chain…carriers。　　Spangenberg　was　much　pleased　with　the　tract。　It　had　a　half　mile　frontage　on　the　Ogeechee；　extended　two　miles　back　into　the　forest；　and　gave　a　good　variety　of　land；　some　low　and　damp　for　the　cultivation　of　rice；　sandy　soil　covered　with　grass　for　pasturage；　and　dry　uplands　suitable　for　corn　and　vegetables。　　A　rapid　stream　furnished　an　abundance　of　pure　water；　and　site　for　a　mill；　while　the　thick　growth　of　timber　guaranteed　a　supply　of　material　for　houses　and　boats。　　Near　the　river　rose　a　high　hill；　where　it　had　once　been　the　intention　to　build　a　fort；　and　a　house　had　really　been　erected。　　This　the　Indians　burned；　and　later　another　site　had　been　chosen　for　Fort　Argyle；　but　the　place　retained　the　name　of　〃Old　Fort〃；　and　the　hill　would　serve　as　the　location　for　the　Moravian　dwelling。

Indian　tribes　which　were　friendly　to　the　English　lived　at　no　great　distance；　and　the　trail　to　Savannah　and　Ebenezer　led　directly　by　Old　Fort；　while　the　opening　of　two　roads　would　bring　both　those　towns　within　a　four　hour's　ride　of　the　settlement。

Well　content；　therefore；　with　their　new　acquisition；　the　Moravians　returned　to　Fort　Argyle；　whence　Johnson　rode　back　to　Savannah；　leaving　them　to　follow　with　the　boat。　　At　the　mouth　of　the　Ogeechee　they　encountered　a　severe　storm；　against　which　they　could　make　little　headway；　try　as　they　would。　Their　anchor　was　too　light　to　hold　against　the　current；　and　there　was　a　marsh　on　one　bank　and　rocks　on　the　other；　but　at　last；　after　night…fall；　in　the　face　of　a　terrific　thunder　storm；　they　forced　their　way　to　a　place　where　they　could　land；　and　where　they　passed　the　rest　of　the　night；　enduring　as　best　they　could　the　heavy　rain；　and　the　attack　of　insects；　against　neither　of　which　they　were　able　to　protect　themselves。　　〃This　place　takes　its　name；　　‘Rotten…possum'；　　from　an　animal　frequently　found　here；　which　they　call　a　Possum。　　I　am　told　that　it　has　a　double　belly；　and　that　if　pursued　it　puts　its　young　into　one　belly；　runs　up　a　tree　until　it　reaches　a　limb；　springs　out　on　that　until　it　is　among　the　leaves；　and　then　lays　itself　across　the　branch　with　one　belly　on　each　side；　and　so　hides　itself；　and　saves　its　life！〃　The　rest　of　the　journey　was　uneventful；　and　on　Friday　morning；　September　2nd；　they　reached　Savannah；　having　been　absent　ten　days。

It　seems　a　great　pity　that　the　Moravians　were　unable　to　establish　themselves　on　this　tract；　where　their　industry　would　soon　have　made　an　oasis　in　the　wilderness；　but　one　thing　after　the　other　interfered；　and　the　〃second　company〃　which　arrived　early　in　the　following　year；　found　them　still　at　Savannah。

In　Savannah　matters　moved　toward　a　fair　degree　of　prosperity　for　the　Moravians。　　About　four　acres　of　Spangenberg's　garden　were　cleared　in　time　for　the　first　summer's　crop　of　corn；　which　yielded　them　sixty　bushels。　　They　also　raised　some　beans；　which　came　to　maturity　at　a　time　when　provisions　and　funds　were　very　low；　so　helping　them　greatly。

The　two　farm　lots　were　laid　out　during　the　summer；　Spangenberg　assisting　with　the　survey。　　By　the　close　of　the　year　twenty…six　acres　had　been　cleared；　　on　the　uplands　this　meant　the　felling　of　trees；　and　gradual　removal　of　stumps　as　time　permitted；　but　on　the　rice　lands　it　meant　far　more。　　The　great　reeds；　ten　to　twelve　feet　high；　grew　so　thick　that　a　man　could　scarcely　set　foot　between　them；　and　in　cutting　them　down　it　was　necessary　to　go　〃knee…deep〃　below　the　surface　of　the　ground；　and　then　the　roots　were　so　intertwined　that　it　was　difficult　to　pull　them　out。

Every　acre　of　land　that　was　cleared　and　planted　had　to　be　securely　fenced　in；　for　cattle　roamed　in　the　woods；　and　ruined　unprotected　crops。　Indeed；　the　colonists　in　Georgia　derived　little　benefit　from　their　cattle；　which　ran　at　large；　and　when　a　few　were　wanted　for　beef　or　for　domestic　purposes；　they　were　hunted　and　driven　in。　The　Moravians　had　to　wait　until　midsummer　before　they　could　get　their　allotment；　and　then　they　received　a　cow　and　calf；　six　hogs　and　five　pigs；　with　the　promise　of　more。　　Before　the　others　came　the　cows　had　again　escaped　to　the　woods；　and　the　swine　had　been　drowned！

In　July　Spangenberg　wrote　to　Herrnhut　that　he　had　given　his　fifty　acres　of　land；　including　the　town　lot；　to　the　Moravian　Congregation　at　Savann