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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。
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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
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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
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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 Spangenber