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68 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
tection to all of the American colonies, but especially to Carolina against
the encroachments of the Spaniards, who regarded with jealous and
hostile eyes the growing power and expanding settlements of England
upon American shores. This mutual sympathy and dependence were,
at an early date, acknowledged by a contributor to the 'London Maga
zine' in the following lines:"
"To Carolina be a Georgia joined;
Then shall both colonies sure progress make,
Endeared to either for the other's sake;
Georgia shall Carolina's favor move,
And Carolina bloom by Georgia's love."
Before leaving Charleston, Governor Johnson, we are informed,
"cheerfully responded to Oglethorpe's needs." What these were we
do not know. But the reception to the colonists included a sumptuous
banquet at which some old wine was uncorked. Under the guidance of
the king's pilot, a Mr. Middleton, who performed this office by Governor
Johnson's direction, the colonists were conducted to Port Royal where
the Anne was securely anchored, after which the settlers went ashore
at Beaufort to find convenient quarters in the substantial new barracks.
Oglethorpe's arrival at Beaufort was signalized by an artillery salute.
Here leaving the colonists to refresh themselves amid pleasant surround
ings, he set out with Col. William Bull, on a reconnoitering expedi
tion and proceeded up the Savannah River until he reached a point
some eighteen miles inland, where a high bluff overlooked the stream.
Hitherto, on either side, the river had coursed through marshy lowlands;
but here, some forty feet above low tide, arose an elevated plateau, on
which stood a forest of pines, interspersed with fragrant magnolias,
while here and there an ancient live oak trailed its pendant mosses. The
river was deep enough at this point to float an ordinary vessel; and in
the shadow of this high bluff a ship could easily discharge its cargo at
the water's edge.
It was an ideal site for a town. Oglethorpe's trained eye was quick
to detect its advantages; and realizing in an instant that he had found
the spot of which he, was in search he called it Savannah, from the river
which murmured at its base. On the heights stood an Indian village
which, on inquiry, he learned to be the seat of a small detached tribe of
the Creek Nation known as Yamacraws. Tomo-chi-chi, an aged prince
of the forest, was its chief or mico. On this same side of the river—
though in contravention of a law governing South Carolina's commerce
with the Indians—was a trading post, here established by a man named
Musgrove, whose wife, Mary, was a half-breed, afterwards famous in
the history of the settlement.
Deeming it wise to treat with the recognized chief of the region before
bringing his colonists hither, at what might prove an imminent risk, he
sought and obtained an interview with this Indian mico—the first Geor
gian of whom we have any account—Tomo-chi-chi. To this end he pro
cured the mediatory services of Mary Musgrove, whom he found to be
kindly disposed toward her husband's fellow-countrymen and whose fair
knowledge of English made her a good interpreter. Mary's Indian name