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CHAPTER VIII
TOMO-CHI-CHI FORMALLY WELCOMES THE NEWLY-ARRIVED COLONISTS—
AN INDIAN CEREMONIAL—LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OP SAVANNAH—
OGLETHORPE ASSEMBLES THE COLONISTS FOR A FEW TIMELY WORDS
OF ADMONITION—His FIRST LETTER TO THE TRUSTEES—SOUTH CARO
LINA EXTENDS SUBSTANTIAL HELP—SAWYERS CONTRIBUTED—MANY
HANDSOME DONATIONS—FRIENDS WHO LENT A HELPING HAND—OGLE
THORPE AT WORK—PORTRAYED BY A SOUTH CAROLINA GENTLEMAN—
SAVANNAH'S RAPID GROWTH—DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN BY BARON
VON RECK—OGLETHORPE VISITS CHARLESTON—ADDRESSES THE GEN
ERAL ASSEMBLY AND THANKS THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA—LET
TERS OF CONGRATULATION FROM THE NORTHERN COLONIES—CHRIST
CHURCH, SAVANNAH.
To meet the colonists on arrival there was a large company of Indians
assembled on the bluff. Nor was this greeting unaccompanied by the
spectacular formalities characteristic of the savage tribes. We quote
from an old account the following paragraph, descriptive of these cere
monies: "In front advanced the Medicine Man, bearing in each hand
a fan of white feathers—the symbols of peace and friendship. Then
came Tomo-chi-ehi and Scenauki, his wife, attended by a retinue of some
twenty members of the tribe filling the air with shouts. Approaching
Oglethorpe, who advanced a few paces to meet them, the Medicine Man
or priest, proclaiming the while the brave deeds of his ancestors, stroked
the governor on each side with his fans—apt emblems of amity. This
done, the king and queen drew near and bade him and his followers
welcome. After an interchange of compliments, the Indians were enter
tained as hospitably as the means at command would allow-"*
Busily setting themselves to work the colonists before nightfall had
cleared a wide space among the pines, in which area four tents were
erected large enough to accommodate the entire settlement. These were
provided, of course, for temporary purposes, to serve until permanent
homes could be built. Thither such bedding as was needed to give com
fort and protection was brought from the boats anchored underneath
the bluff. Oglethorpe, having posted his sentinels, lay down near the
central watch-fire, a sharer in the common hardships, privations and
dangers of his little flock; and thus, amid the solitudes of a primeval
forest and underneath the stars of a new world, disturbed by no spectres
of impending danger, was passed in sweet repose the first night spent on
Georgia's soil.
; " History of Georgia," Charles C. Jones, Vol. I, pp. 132-133.
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