the moravians in georgia-第12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 f
