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CHAPTER X
OGLETHOEPE'S TREATY WITH TOMO-CHI-CHI NEEDS TO BE CONFIRMED
BY THE GREEK NATION—THE AGED Mico ARRANGES A MEETING TO
BE HELD IN SAVANNAH—WHAT TOOK PLACE AT THIS CONFERENCE
WITH THE INDIANS—CONCESSIONS MADE TO THE ENGLISH—FRIENDLY
BELATIONS STRENGTHENED—SCHEDULE OF PRICES FOR ARTICLES SOLD
TO THE INDIANS—PORT ARGYLE Is LOCATED—HIGHGATE AND HAMP-
STEAD—THUNDERBOLT Is FORTIFIED—SKIDOWAY NARROWS—JOSEPH-
TOWN—ABERCORN—IRENE—TYBEE LIGHTHOUSE Is STARTED—BETH-
ANY——GOSHEN.
Oglethorpe's interview with Tomo-chi-chi, on the eve of Savannah's
establishment, was in no sense of the word a treaty with the Creek nation
of Indians. It only secured the friendship of a small detached tribe
known as the Tamacraws whose aged chief, though a man of powerful
influence throughout the whole Georgia forest, was nevertheless unable
to bind his nation by any compact into which he himself might enter
with the whites. But Oglethorpe' found Tomo-chi-chi 's friendly offices
of priceless value to the infant colony of Georgia.* Not only did he
obtain from this aged Indian both the names and the abodes of all the
principal Creek chiefs, but rj. ^mo-chi-chi became himself an intermedi
ary, through whom an earnest invitation was extended to these chiefs to
meet Oglethorpe in Savannah at some convenient time in the early
summer. What the fate' of Georgia might have been without the timely
help of this noble Indian we cannot tell—we shudder to contemplate.
Due to Tomo-chi-chi's influence, the Creek kings and warriors were
not only willing to attend a meeting in Savannah but were ready to
regard its objects with favor. The time set for the interview was May
14, 1733. It was 'necessary for Oglethorpe to make a visit to Charleston
in the meantime but he hastened back to attend this important conven
tion of red men. We find a full account of what took place at this con
ference in an old volume, from which we quote the following extracts: t
"On the 14th of May, Mr. Oglethorpe set out from Charlestown on his
return to Savannah, which is the name of the town now begun to be
built in Georgia. That night he lay at Col. Bull's house on Ashley
River, where he dined the next day. The Rev. Mr. Guy, rector of the
parish of St; John's waited upon him there, and acquainted him that
his parishioners had raised a very handsome contribution for the assist
ance of the colony of Georgia. Mr. Oglethorpe went from thence to
Capt. Bull's, where he lay on the 15th. On the 16th, in the morning,
* See article in small type at the close of tlie preceding chapter.
f "Political. State of Great Britain," Vol. 46.
87