Little
wonder then that Oglethorpe chose Yamacraw Bluff for his town.
A trader from Carolina was found here, and the trader's wife, a half-breed,
Mary Musgrove by name, did the English good service. She made her Indian
kindred friends with the newcomers. From the first Oglethorpe dealt wisely
with the red men. In return for many coveted goods, he procured within the
year a formal cession of the land between the two rivers and the islands
off the coast. He swore friendship and promised to treat the Indians
justly, and he kept his oath. The site chosen, he now returned to the Anne
and presently brought his colonists up the river to that fair place. As
soon as they landed, these first Georgians began immediately to build a
town which they named Savannah.
Ere long other emigrants arrived. In 1734 came seventy-eight German
Protestants from Salzburg, with Baron von Reck and two pastors for leaders.
The next year saw fifty-seven others added to these. Then came Moravians
with their pastor. All these strong, industrious, religious folk made
settlements upon the river above Savannah. Italians came, Piedmontese sent
by the trustees to teach the coveted silk-culture. Oglethorpe, when he
sailed to England in 1734, took with him Tomochi-chi, chief of the
Yamacraws, and other Indians. English interest in Georgia increased.
Parliament gave more money -- 26,000 pounds. Oglethorpe and the trustees
gathered more colonists. The Spanish cloud seemed to be rolling up in the
south, and it was desirable to have in Georgia a number of men who were by
inheritance used to war.
Pages:
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196