Travels Through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek Confederacy, and the Country of the Chactaws.: Containing an Account of the Soil and Natural Productions of Those Regions, Together With Observations on the Manners of the Indians.Bartram, William
History
Travels Through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek Confederacy, and the Country of the Chactaws.: Containing an Account of the Soil and Natural Productions of Those Regions, Together With Observations on the Manners of the Indians.
Bartram, William
Bartram, William, 1739-1823 -- Travel -- Southern States; Indians of North America -- Southern States; Natural history -- Southern States; Southern States -- Description and travel
Arriving in Carolina very early in the spring vegetation was not
sufficiently advanced to invite me into the western parts of this
state; from which circumstance, I concluded to make an excursion into
Georgia; accordingly, I embarked on board a coasting vessel, and in
twenty-four hours arrived in Savanna, the capital, where, acquainting
the governor, Sir J. Wright, with my business, his excellency received
me with great politeness, showed me every mark of esteem and regard,
and furnished me with letters to the principal inhabitants of the
state, which were of great service to me. Another circumstance very
opportunely occurred on my arrival: the assembly was then sitting in
Savanna, and several members lodging in the same house where I took up
my quarters, I became acquainted with several worthy characters, who
invited me to call at their seats occasionally, as I passed through the
country; particularly the hon. B. Andrews, esq. a distinguished,
patriotic and liberal character. This gentleman’s seat, and well
cultivated plantations, are situated near the south high road, which I
often travelled; and I seldom passed his house without calling to see
him, for it was the seat of virtue, where hospitality, piety, and
philosophy, formed the happy family; where the weary traveller and
stranger found a hearty welcome, and from whence it must be his own
fault, if he departed without being greatly benefited.
After resting, and a little recreation for a few days in Savanna, and
having in the mean time purchased a good horse, and equipped myself for
a journey southward, I sat off early in the morning for Sunbury, a
sea-port town, beautifully situated on the main, between Medway and
Newport rivers, about fifteen miles south of great Ogeeche river. The
town and harbour are defended from the fury of the seas by the north
and south points of St. Helena and South Catherine’s islands; between
which is the bar and entrance into the sound: the harbour is capacious
and safe, and has water enough for ships of great burthen. I arrived
here in the evening, in company with a gentleman, one of the
inhabitants, who politely introduced me to one of the principal
families, where I supped and spent the evening in a circle of genteel
and polite ladies and gentlemen. Next day, being desirous of visiting
the islands, I forded a narrow shoal, part of the sound, and landed on
one of them, which employed me the whole day to explore. The surface
and vegetable mould here is generally a loose sand, not very fertile,
except some spots bordering on the sound and inlets, where are found
heaps or mounds of sea-shell, either formerly brought there, by the
Indians, who inhabited the island, or which were perhaps thrown up in
ridges, by the beating surface of the sea: possibly both these
circumstances may have contributed to their formation. These
sea-shells, through length of time, and the subtle penetrating effects
of the air, which dissolve them to earth, render these ridges very
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