Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 115
Frederiea dates back to this time and comes from the pen of Mr. Francis
Moore. Says he: *
"The Main Street that went from the Front into the Country was
25 yards wide. Each Free-holder had 60 Foot in Front by 90 Foot in
Depth, upon the high Street, for their House and Garden; but those
which fronted the .River had but 30 Foot in Front, by 60 Foot in Depth.
Each Family had a Bower of Palmetto Leaves, finished upon the back
Street in their own Lands. The Side towards the front Street was set
out for their Houses. These Palmetto Bowers were very convenient
Shelters, being tight in the hardest Rains; they were about 20 Foot long
and 14 Foot wide, and, in regular Bows, looked very pretty, the Pal
metto Leaves lying smooth and handsome, and of a good Colour. The
whole appeared something like a Camp, for the Bowers looked like
Tents, only being larger and covered with Palmetto Leaves instead of
Canvas. There were 3 large Tents, two- belonging to Mr. Oglethorpe,
and one to Mr. Horton, pitched upon the Parade near the River."
Before returning to Savannah, Oglethorpe proceeded further down
the coast, accompanied by a body of Indians, some forty in number,
including Tomo-chi-chi. The party was conveyed in two scout boats.
On the day following, Capt. Hugh Mackay, with, twenty Highlanders,
ten men of the Independent Company and a supply of provisions, over
took them on the journey southward. Reaching an island called by the
Indians "Wasso, meaning "sassafras," he changed its name to Cumber
land. This was done at the suggestion of Toona-howi, nephew of Tonia-
chi-chi, who had received from the Duke of Cumberland, while in Eng
land, a gold watch as a memento, "We will give his name to this
island," said Toona-howi, "so that we will remember him at all times."
On the north-western point of Cumberland the site for a fort was marked
out to be called Fort Andrew. Captain Mackay was left on the island
with his command to construct this stronghold, attended by a company
of Indians to supply them with game for food while thus engaged.
The island to the south of Cumberland was named Amelia, because
of its rich coloring, then beautiful with the soft tints of early spring. To
the Spaniards this island was known as Santa Maria, the English of
which is St. Mary, a name still retained by a river forming the present
southern boundary line of Georgia.
At a later period, Fort William was built at the lower end of Cum
berland to control the inland passage to St. Augustine. On San Juan
Island, at the entrance to the St. John's River, he found an old fort
which he called Fort George, since this island was included in a cession
of land made by the Indians to King George. Captain Hermsdorf was
left with a detachment of Highlanders to rebuild this fort.
En route back to Frederica a battery called Fort St. Simon was
erected at the lower end of St. Simon's Island to guard the inland
passage to Frederiea and to command the entrance to Jekyll Sound.
Arrived at Frederiea, Oglethorpe was gratified to find the men busily at
•work. Within the fort had been dug a well which yielded an abundant
supply of good water. Under one of the bastions of the fort a powder
magazine had also been excavated. To encourage the workmen an in-
'Voyage to Georgia."