ugust 29th, before the sun rose, the party repaired
to the Moravian tract, which Johnson surveyed, the Moravians acting as
chain-carriers. Spangenberg was much pleased with the tract. It had a
half mile frontage on the Ogeechee, extended two miles back into the
forest, and gave a good variety of land, some low and damp for the
cultivation of rice, sandy soil covered with grass for pasturage, and
dry uplands suitable for corn and vegetables. A rapid stream furnished
an abundance of pure water, and site for a mill, while the thick growth
of timber guaranteed a supply of material for houses and boats. Near the
river rose a high hill, where it had once been the intention to build a
fort, and a house had really been erected. This the Indians burned,
and later another site had been chosen for Fort Argyle, but the place
retained the name of "Old Fort", and the hill would serve as the
location for the Moravian dwelling.

Indian tribes which were friendly to the English lived at no great
distance, and the trail to Savannah and Ebenezer led directly by Old
Fort, while the opening of two roads would bring both those towns within
a four hour's ride of the settlement.

Well content, therefore, with their new acquisition, the Moravians
returned to Fort Argyle, whence Johnson rode back to Savannah, leaving
them to follow with the boat. At the mouth of the Ogeechee they
encountered a severe storm, against which they could make little
headway, try as they would. Their anchor was too light to hold against
the current, and there was a marsh on one bank and rocks on the other,
but at last, after night-fall, in the face of a terrific thunder storm,
they forced their way to a place where they could land, and where they
passed the rest of the night, enduring as best they could the heavy
rain, and the attack of insects, against neither of which they were
able to protect themselves. "This place takes its
name,--'Rotten-possum',--from an animal frequently found here, which
they call a Possum. I am told that it has a double belly, and that
if pursued it puts its young into one belly, runs up a tree until it
reaches a limb, springs out on that until it is among the leaves, and
then lays itself across the branch with one belly on each side, and
so hides itself, and saves its life!" The rest of the journey was
uneventful, and on Friday morning, September 2nd, they reached Savannah,
having been absent ten days.

It seems a great pity that the Mora