USA > Georgia > Statistics of the state of Georgia : including an account of its natural, civil, and ecclesiastical history ; together with a particular description of each county, notices of the manners and customs of its aboriginal tribes, and a correct map of the state > Part 3
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34
INDIANS.
water and drinks it. In the dusk of the evening, he eats two or three spoonfuls of boiled grits. This is repeated for four days, and during this time he remains in a house. The Sou- watch-cau has the effect of intoxicating and maddening. The fourth day he goes out, but must put on a pair of new mocca- sons (Stil-la-pica). For twelve moons he abstains from eating bucks, except old ones, and from turkey cocks, fowls, peas, and salt. During this period he must not pick his ears, or scratch his head with his fingers, but use a small stick. For four moons he must have a fire to himself to cook his food, and a little girl, a virgin, may cook for him ; his food is boiled grits. The fifth moon, any person may cook for him, but he must serve himself first, and use one spoon and pan. Every new moon he drinks for four days the possau (button snake- root), an emetic, and abstains for these days from all food, ex- cept in the evening a little boiled grits (humpetuh hutke). The twelfth moon, he performs for four days what he com- menced with on the first. The fifth day, he comes out of his house, gathers corn-cobs, burns them to ashes, and with these rubs his body all over. At the end of this moon, he sweats under blankets, then goes into water, and this ends the cere- mony. This ceremony is sometimes extended to four, six, or eight moons, or even to twelve days only, but the course is the same.
During the whole of this ceremony, the physic is adminis- tered by the Is-te-puc-cau-chau thluc-co (great leader), who, in speaking of a youth under initiation, says, " I am physicking him" (Boo-se-ji-jite saut li-to-mise-chah), or " I am teaching him all that is proper for him to know" (nauk o-mul-gau e- . muc-e-thli-jite saut litomise chah). The youth, during this ini- tiation, does not touch any one except young persons, who are under a like course with himself; and if he dreams, he drinks the possau.
WAR PHYSIC, HO-ITH-LE HIL-LIS-SO-WAU .- When young men are going to war, they go into a hot-house of the town made for the purpose, and remain there for four days. They drink the Mic-co-ho-yon-e-jau and the possau, and they eat the Sou-watch-cau. The fourth day they come out, have their bundle ready, and march. This bundle or
35
SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, EXTENT.
knapsack, is an old blanket, some parched corn flour, and leather to patch their moccasons. They have in their shot- bags a charm, a protection against all ills, called the war physic, composed of chit-to gab-by and Is-te-pau-pau, the bones of the snake and lion.
The tradition of this physic is, that in old times, the lion (Is-te-pau-pau) devoured their people. They dug a pit and caught him in it, just after he had killed one of their people. They covered him with lightwood knots, burnt him, and re- served his bones.
The snake was in the water, the old people sung and he showed himself. They sung again, and he showed himself a little out of the water. The third time he showed his horns, and they cut one ; again he showed himself a fourth time, and they cut off the other horn. A piece of these horns and of the bones of the lion, is the great war physic.
1204236
SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, EXTENT.
Georgia is situated between 30° 21/ 39/ and 35º North Latitude, and 81° and 84° 53" 38' West Longitude from Green- wich, and 3º 46" and 7º 39" 26' West Longitude from Wash- ington city.
The original boundaries of the State embraced an extent of territory thus described in the charter of the colony of Georgia :- " Situate, lying, and being in that part of South Carolina, in America, which lies from the most northern part of a stream, or river, there commonly called the Savannah, all along the sea-coast to the southward, to the southern stream of a certain other great water, or river, called the Alatamaha, and westwardly from the heads of the said rivers respectively, in direct lines to the South Seas ; and all that share, circuit, and precinct of lands within the said boundaries, with the Isl- ands on the sea lying opposite to the eastern coast of the said lands within 20 degrees of the same." These limits have un- dergone many changes from cessions, made by Georgia to the United States, and by treaties made with the Indians. At pre-
36
SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, EXTENT.
sent the boundaries of the State stand thus :- From South Carolina it is divided by a line extending from the sea or the mouth of the river Savannah, along the northern branch or stream thereof, to the fork or confluence of the rivers now called Tugalo and Keowee, and from thence along the most northern branch or stream of the river Tugalo, until it inter- sects the northern boundary of South Carolina. From North Carolina and Tennessee it is separated by a line commencing on a summit of the Blue Ridge, where the same is crossed by the 35th degree North Latitude, and terminating at Nickajack. From Alabama by the Chattahoochee, and a line run and mark- ed from Nickajack to Miller's Bend on the Chattahoochee. The . boundaries between Florida and Georgia are not yet definitely settled. In 1827 a disagreement took place between the Uni- ted States and the Commissioners of Georgia as to the extreme points in the boundary line between this State and Florida, on account of which further progress in the survey was suspend- ed. Under the treaty with Spain, in 1795, the geographical points were assumed as having been determined by Mr. Elli- cot; and when, during the year 1827, it was determined to ex- amine it again, the question recurred as to the correct points of beginning and termination. Gov. Randolph inclined to place them at Ellicot's Mounds, and Mr. Spalding at other portions which he considered more truly the head of St. Mary's river in the one case, and the mouth of the Flint in the other. Things remained so until the session of the Legislature in 1827, when a resolution was passed proposing to the General Government to determine the boundaries by the mutual char- ters of Georgia and Florida, instead of the treaty of San Lo- renzo el Real.
Length from North to South, 372 miles. Breadth from East to West, 256
Square miles, 63,397₺
Square acres, 40,574,400
37
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
Georgia has a great variety of soil, embracing the most fertile and the most barren. In the south are the Sea Islands, of a light sandy soil, famous for producing the finer descriptions of Sea Island cotton.
Here, too, are the celebrated tide swamp lands, producing immense quantities of rice. The tide swamp lands on the rivers are all of the same appearance, but the soil varies in quality, according to the size and extent of the rivers upon which they are situated. On the Savannah river, the bodies of tide swamp land are extensive, and are cultivated upwards of twenty miles from the brackish marsh up the river, and are considered the most valuable lands in the State. Next to these are the lands on the Alatamaha river. The extent of these lands in width is equal to those of the Savannah river; but from the marshes upward, their extent does not exceed six- teen miles, where the freshets forbid their being of any value, except for timber. The soil has more of decayed vegetable mould than the land of the Savannah river, and is more easily cultivated. The products are large crops of rice, and black- seed cotton. Indian corn grows well, and the sugar cane suc- ceeds finely. The tide lands of the Ogeechee are next in order, and extend from the marshes about ten miles. The soil is adapted to rice, but for cotton it does not appear to answer so well. The tide swamp lands of the Great St. Illa river, have a high reputation. They are not as broad as those above mentioned, but they are good, from the marshes twenty miles distance up the river, and are not liable to freshets. On these lands, fine crops of rice and cotton are made. The inland swamp lands produce abundantly, but unless there be, contigu- ous a reservoir of water, the produce is uncertain. The oak lands adjoining the inland swamps produce the black-seed cot- ton, but are said to be inferior in quality. About sixty or seventy miles from the coast the pine lands are approached. A great portion of these are low and unproductive, valuable chief- ly for timber, large quantities of which are annually prepared for market. Many of these lands, considered as valueless, have
38
RIVERS.
been found to yield cotton and corn abundantly. Many of the owners of these lands, are now directing their attention to the manufacture of tar, pitch and turpentine, and no doubt will, in the course of a few years, be amply rewarded for their labour. The middle region of the State contains the oak and hickory lands, the soil being of a red, rich, loamy character, producing cotton, tobacco, and all the grains. Against the system of cultivation which has long been pursued in this part of the State, we have often taken occasion in this volume to pro- test. Formerly these lands were very productive, but have sustained serious injury from an improvident mode of culture ; but we are happy to state, that great changes are daily taking place ; and we hope that this beautiful region will soon be re- stored in a very great degree to its original fertility. In the southwestern portions of the State, there are large bodies of very superior land. In the counties of Randolph, Stewart, Baker, Decatur, Early, and in other sections between the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers, lands are to be found of inex- haustible fertility, producing every thing which the comfort or necessity of man requires. That portion of the State known as Cherokee Georgia, embracing the counties of Union, Lump- kin, Murray, Cass, Walker, Dade, Floyd, Chattooga, Paulding, Cobb, and Cherokee, contains much fertile land. The valleys of Chattooga, Cass, Floyd and Murray, are exceedingly rich, pro- ducing wheat, corn, Irish potatoes, beans, onions, &c. Cotton does not succeed so well as in the middle regions. In the country bordering on the Savannah river, as far up as Elbert, and extending across to Broad river, the land, though long cul- tivated, is still productive, and we know of bodies of land in this section of the State, particularly in Oglethorpe county, which have been cultivated for more than half a century, and which still produce 700 and 800 pounds of cotton to the acre.
RIVERS.
Allapahaw river has its source in Dooly county, flows south- east, then south, and discharges its waters into the Suwanee. It is a hundred miles in length.
-
39
RIVERS.
Alatamaha river is the largest river in the State. It is formed by the junction of the Ocmulgee and Oconee about seventy miles from its mouth. In its course it receives the Ohoopee, runs southeast, and empties itself by two mouths into the ocean between St. Simon's Island and Sapelo. The north branch passes by Darien, and discharges itself through Doboy Sound ; the southern branch passes between Egg Island and Little St. Simon's. From Darien it is navigable two hundred miles to the forks of the Ocmulgee and the Oconee, and up the Ocmulgee the west branch three hundred miles to Macon, and up the Oconee two hundred miles to Milledgeville. From Da- rien it is navigable for vessels drawing eleven feet, at common high water in ordinary tides, to Doboy Island. At the latter place ships may come drawing fourteen feet, at common high water.
Alcovee or Ulcofauhachee river rises in Gwinnett, and empties into the Ocmulgee in Jasper county.
Appallachee river rises in Gwinnett, runs southeast, and empties into the Oconee six miles west of Greensborough. It is eighty miles in length.
Briar creek, although not dignified with the name of a river, is an important stream. It rises in Warren county, flows southeast, and discharges itself into the Savannah river in Scri- ven county. It is a hundred miles in length, and is memora- ble for a great battle fought at its mouth in the war of the Rev- olution, in which Gen. Ash, commanding the Americans, was defeated with great loss.
Broad river rises in Habersham county, runs southeast, and empties into the Savannah river at Petersburgh, in Elbert county. The lands on this river have long been celebrated for their fertility.
Cannouchee river has its origin in Emanuel, flows southeast, and discharges itself into Ogeechee river, in Bryan county. Its length is one hundred and forty miles and navigable fifty miles.
Chattooga river, one of the head branches of the Savannah, rises in the Blue Ridge in South Carolina.
Chattooga river rises in Walker county, runs southwest, and empties into the Coosa river.
Chattahoochee river is one of the largest rivers in the State.
1
40
RIVERS.
Its head springs are within a few hundred yards of those of the Hiwassee. Its course is southwest, but at Miller's Bend it sud- denly turns to the south, and pursuing a course of about three hundred and sixty miles, it unites with the Flint river in Deca- tur county, and then taking the name of Appalachicola dis- charges itself into Appalachicola bay. This river is the boundary between Georgia and Alabama for the distance of about thirty-two miles above Columbus, and for a hundred and twenty miles to the bounds of Florida. It is navigable for steamboats to Columbus. Large quantities of gold have been, and still continue to be found in the upper part of this river.
Chestatee river rises in Union, and empties into the Chatta- hoochee eleven miles below Gainesville in Hall county. In this river a considerable amount of gold has been found.
Chickamauga river (west) rises in the Pigeon mountain, flows north, and empties into the Tennessee river.
Chickamauga river (east) rises in the eastern part of Walk- er county, flows north, and unites with the west Chicka- mauga.
Connesauga river rises in the mountains of Gilmer, crosses the boundary between Tennessee and Georgia several times, and then turns south, flows through Murray county, and unites with the Coosawattee to form the Oostenaula at New Echota in Cass county.
Coosewattee river rises in Gilmer, runs southwest, and unites with the Conesauga at New Echota.
Cotton river rises in Henry county, and flows into the South River.
Crooked river rises in Camden county, and flows east.
Ellijay river has its origin in Gilmer, and discharges itself into the Coosewattee at Ellijay.
Etowah river rises in Lumpkin county, pursues a south course until it reaches a point near Auraria, when it takes a southwest direction and unites at Rome with the Oostenaula to form the Coosa. The Etowah is celebrated for the fine land on its banks, as well as for the facilities which it affords for manufacturing purposes.
Flint river rises in De Kalb, flows south and then south-
.
41
RIVERS.
east, and unites with the Chattahoochee in Decatur county. Its whole length is 300 miles.
Hiwassee river rises in the Blue Ridge, about the northern corner of Habersham, flows north, and empties into the Ten- nessee river.
Hudson's river rises in Habersham, runs southeast, and discharges itself into Broad river.
.
Little river rises in Greene and Oglethorpe, flows east, and empties into the Savannah river.
Little river rises in Cherokee county, and flows into the Etowah.
Little river rises in Walton, flows south and then east, and disharges its waters into the Oconee, eight miles above Milledgeville. It is sixty miles long, and remarkable for its rapid current.
Little river rises in Irwin, flows south, and empties into the Withlacoochee at Troupville, in Lowndes county.
Mickasuckee river rises in Thomas, flows southeast, and empties into Mickasuckee lake.
Medway river rises in Bryan and Liberty, and discharges itself into St. Catherine's Sound.
Newport river (north) rises in Liberty county, and is na- vigable to Riceborough. It is about twenty-five miles in length.
Newport river (south) rises in Bull Town Swamp, and empties into Sapelo Sound.
North Fork river, as it is often called, the main branch of the Oconee, rises in Hall county, and unites with the Middle Fork below Athens.
Notley river rises in Union, flows north, and empties into the Tennessee.
Och-loch-onne river rises in Irwin, flows through Thomas, and falls into the Appalachee bay in Florida.
Ocilla river has its source in Thomas, and runs into Florida.
Ocmulgee river rises in De Kalb and Gwinnett, flows south, and unites with the Oconee.
Ocmulgee (little) river rises in Twiggs, and falls into the Ocmulgee, at Lumber city, in Telfair county.
42
RIVERS.
Oconee river rises in Habersham county. The general course of this river is south-southeast. A boat sixty feet long once ascended to Barnett's shoals, near Watkinsville ; but be- yond Milledgeville no produce has been carried.
Ogeechee river rises in Greene and flows into Ossabaw Sound. It is more than two hundred miles long, and boats of thirty tons burden have reached Louisville. Sloops ascend thirty or forty miles.
Ogeechee (little) river rises in Scriven, and falls into the Big Ogeechee, at the southwest corner of Scriven.
Ogeechee (little) river rises in Hancock and flows into the Big Ogeechee in Washington county.
Ohoopee river rises in Washington, and empties into the Alatamaha river, in Tattnall county-length, 110 miles.
Ohoopee river (little) flows into the Big Ohoopee in Emanuel county.
Oostenaula river is formed by the junction of the Conesauga and Coosewattee, in Cass county, and unites with the Etowah at Rome.
Sapelo river rises in McIntosh.
St. Illa river rises in Appling, flows east, thence north, thence east, and empties into St. Andrew's Sound-whole length, 153 miles, and is navigable for sloops to Burnt Fort.
St. Mary's river has three head springs; one issues from Lake Spalding, one from Lake Randolph, and the other from Oke-fino-kau swamp. This river is very crooked, navigable for sloops thirty miles, and for boats sixty miles. It discharges its waters into Cumberland Sound.
Savannah river divides Georgia from Alabama. It has two head streams-the Chattooga, from the northeast, and Terrora, or Tallulah, from the northwest, which unite and form the Tugalo. This is then joined by the Kiowee, from South Caro- lina, and here takes the name of Savannah river. It has a ship navigation to the city of Savannah, and a steamboat naviga- tion to Augusta. It is navigable for boats some distance above Augusta.
South river has its origin in De Kalb county, and falls into the Yellow river in Butts county.
43
POPULATION.
Suwannee river rises in the Oke-fino-kau swamp, flows southwest, through Florida, into Apallachee bay. The banks of this river are said to be in some places one hundred feet per- pendicular, of granite rock.
Tallulah river rises in Rabun, and unites with the Chattooga to form the Tugalo.
Tallapoosa river rises in Paulding county, and runs south- west.
Tallapoosa river (little) rises in Carroll and flows south- west.
Towelaggee river rises in Henry, flows southeast into the Ocmulgee. It is seventy miles long.
Tugalo river is formed by the union of the Chattooga and Tallulah.
Turtle river rises in Wayne county, and empties into St. Simon's Sound. It is navigable to Brunswick for large vessels, and affords a fine harbour.
Warsaw river empties into Warsaw Sound.
Withlacoochee river rises in Irwin, and runs south, and empties into the Alapahaw.
Yellow river rises in Gwinnett, and unites with the South Ocmulgee in Newton county.
POPULATION.
According to the Census of 1840, the population of Georgia amounted to
210,634 White persons, males. 197,161 White persons, females. 1,374 Free coloured persons, males. 1,379 Free coloured persons, females. 139,335 Slaves, males. 141,609 Slaves, females.
Total, 691,492
44
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Of this number 574 are computed to be engaged in mining, 209,383 in agriculture, 2,428 in commerce, 7,984 in manufac- tures and trades, 262 in navigation of the seas, 352 in the na- vigation of canals, lakes and rivers, 1,250 in the liberal pro- fessions.
Comparative view of the Population for fifty-five years.
1790. 1800.
1810. 1820.
1830. 1840. 1845.
82,548. 162,686. 252,433. 344,773. 516,823. 691,392. 774,325.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
From " An Account showing the Progress of the Colony of Georgia, &c .; printed in London, by order of the Trustees, in the year MDCCXLI."
" Mr. Oglethorpe has with him Sir Walter Rawleigh's writ- ten Journal, and by the Latitude of the Place, the Marks and Traditions of the Indians, it is the very first Place where he first went on shore, and talked with the Indians, and was the first Englishman they ever saw; and about half a mile from Savannah is a high Mount of Earth under which lies their Chief King: And the Indians informed Mr. Oglethorpe that their king desired before he died, that he might be Buried on the Spot where he talked with that great good man."
In 1717 the Palatine and Lords Proprietors of South Caro- lina, granted unto Sir Robert Montgomery, " all that tract of Land which lies between the rivers Alatamaha and Savannah," under the title of the Margravite of Azilia. There is extant a pamphlet in which the owner describes the country, and his plan of settling it, &c. ; but it is presumed he did not carry his plans into execution.
In 1725 the Carolinians had built. forts on the Alatamaha, to prevent the negroes escaping to Florida, and to overawe the Indians. The boundary between the Spanish and Carolinians not yet defined.
In July, 1732, the trustees for establishing a Colony in
45
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Georgia, held their first regular meeting in London. The charter from Georgia, the record, was read, granting all the lands between Savannah and Alatamaha rivers. This charter covers sixteen large octavo pages : it excludes Roman Catholics from the benefits of the country.
From " A Brief Account of the Establishment of the Colony of Georgia, under Gen. Oglethorpe, 1733."
Arrival of first Colonists, at Charlestown, South Carolina, 13th January, 1733.
Charlestown, January 20 .- On Saturday night, 13th Janu- ary, 1733, came to anchor off our bar, a ship with about 120 people, for settling the new Colony of Georgia, in which was James Oglethorpe, Esqr. ; who came ashore that night, and was extremely well received by his Excellency, our Governour. The next morning he went on board ; and the ship sailed for Port Royal :- and, we hear, there are two more ships with people (which will make the number 500) expected daily.
Account of the Progress of the first Colony sent to Georgia.
We set sail from Gravesend, on the 17th of November, 1732, in the ship Anne, of 200 tons, John Thomas, Master, being about 130 persons, and arrived off the bar of Charlestown on the 13th day of January following. Mr. Oglethorpe went on shore to wait on the Governour; was received with great marks of civility and satisfaction ; obtained an order for Mr. Middleton, the King's pilot, to carry the ship into Port Royal ; and for small craft to carry the Colony from thence to the river Savannah, with a promise of further assistance from the Pro- vince. He returned on board the 14th day ; and came to an anchor within the bar of Port Royal, at about sixteen miles distance from Beaufort. On the 18th, he went on shore upon Trench's island, and left a guard of eight men upon John's ; 4
46
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
being a point of that island which commands the channel, and is about half-way between Beaufort and the river Savannah : they had orders to prepare Huts, for the reception of the Colony, against they should lie there in their passage. From thence he went to Beaufort town, where he arrived about one o'clock in the morning ; and was saluted with a discharge of all the Artillery, and had the new Barracks fitted up ; where, the Colony landed on the 20th day; and were, in every respect, cheerfully assisted by Lieut Watts, Ensign Far- rington, and the other officers of his Majesty's independent company, as also by Mr. Delabarr, and other gentlemen of the neighbourhood.
While the Colony refreshed themselves there, Mr. Ogle- thorpe went up the River, and chose a situation for a Town; and entered into a treaty with Tomochichi, the Mico, or Chief of the only nation of Indians living near it. He returned on the 24th day ; and they celebrated the Sunday following, as a day of Thanksgiving for their safe arrival ; and a sermon was preached by the Revd. Mr. Jones (the Revd. Dr. Herbert, who came with the Colony, preaching that day at Beaufort town). There was a great resort of the Gentlemen of that neighbour- hood, and their families ; and a plentiful Dinner provided for the Colony, and all that came, by Mr. Oglethorpe ; being four fat hogs, eight turkeys, besides fowls, English Beef, and other provisions, a hogshead of punch, a hogshead of beer, and a large quantity of wine ; and all was disposed in so regular a manner, that no person was drunk, nor any disorder happened.
On the 30th, the Colony embarked on board a sloop of seventy tons, and five Periaugers, and made sail; but were forced by a storm, to put in at a place called the Look-out, and to lie there all night :- the next day they arrived at John's ; where they found huts capable to contain them all, and a plen- tiful supper of venison. They re-embarked the next day ; and in the afternoon arrived at the place intended for the Town.
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