man Means it will not be easy to help these People, because it will be very difficult to learn their Language.

Friday, March 15.

THIS Day Mr. Oglethorpe arrived here, and received our Saltzburgers and us in a friendly manner; and we dined with him. He will speedily give Orders that our People shall go to the Place intended for their Settlement. He being very sollicitous that these poor Indians should be brought to the Knowledge of Go D, has desired us to learn their Language; and we, with the Blessing of GoD, will joyfully undertake the Task. The Indian Language, from the best Information we can get, containeth not above One Thousand primitive Words; and can best be written with Greek Letters, because of the long and short Vowels; and some of their Sounds, cannot be expressed by any other Alphabet but the Greek. They say, that all Nations descend from two Brothers: that one of them, the Ancestor of the Indians, was red; and the other, the Ancestor of the Europeans, was white. 'Tis probable, these their Thoughts are grounded upon the History of Esau and Jacob. They had known nothing of Drunkenness, if they had not learn'd it of the Christians. They give each other several Names of Honour, according to the Time and Circumstances, as a Title or Reward; whereby they encouroge young People to Valour, Industry and Fidelity.

THEY have some Religion, believing a Supreme Being, which they call Sotolycatè, who is in all Places; though they would not teach us the Word, by which they express the Name of GOD in their Language. They believe that from this Supreme Being comes every Thing, especially Wisdom. They use no Ceremonies, nor outward religious Exercises, except at a solemn Festival held once a Year. They worship no Idols; however they sing some Songs about the ancient Heroes. They are unwilling to talk to profane People about Religion. They are very ambitious: for which Reason they make War, but not to gain Land. They love to be praised; though they seem to turn it off, and transfer it to others. They shew great Respect to old People, to whom one must speak first, before one can speak to the young People. If any one dishonours them, they are not to be reconciled. They account themselves to be rude and ignorant, but are desirous to be better instructed. Of Indians they have several Nations, the best among which are the Creeks, who talk one Language. One of the other Nations, who are called Uchees, are much inclined to Robbing and

Literally translated, He who sitteth Above.

Stealing;

Stealing; but these Creeks are Honest, Serviceable, and Disinterested. He that does a Kindness to them, they will remember for ever. And they likewise are willing to give what one desires of them, though they should want it themselves. If Mr. Oglethorpe was to desire of them to go with him to England, or any other Place, he would be willing; unless he had an old Father, who was helpless, and wanted his Assistance. They love one another, so that they venture their Lives for one another. They abhor Adultery: They provide for the Poor, the Widows, and Orphans. In their Language are no Words which denote obscene Things, or Oaths; unless they learn them from the Europeans. Their Kings do not reign with absolute Power, but give Counsel. The King proposes to the Old Men, and the Old to the Young Men; after which it is put in Execution. They do not contradict one another with vehemence, but endeavour to agree; aud if that cannot be, the Superiors are not angry. The King's Office is, to divide the Time; to tell the Season when to go a Hunting, when to Planting, and when to Harvest. Likewise He is to attend the Sick, give them Physick, provide for Widows: and these are called, KINGS OF PEACE. When a King is not fit for his Office, they choose another. The Wisest is their King; who doth not distinguish himself from others by Clothes. Besides These, they have War Captains. They give the King the Tenth of all they have. If a Present is made to the King, he doth not keep it, but distributes it among all, and keeps nothing for himself; and afterwards they give back the Tenth Part, or pretty near it. The Widows do not cut their Hair, nor tie it up, but let it hang loose. Every Nation hath a peculiar of cutting their Hair, whereby they are distinguished. They honour Mr. Oglethorpe as their Father, and ask his Advice in all their Circumstances: He understands somewhat of their Language.

OUR Saltzburgers have often been admonished very earnestly to abstain from drinking a certain intoxicating Liquor like Brandy, called Rum; which is made of Molosses, in the Islands of the West-Indies, &c. because this Liquor hath occasion'd the Death of many People. Some good Persons, who lately visited our Saltzburgers, are much pleased with their Devotion, and with the whole of their Behaviour; and on that Account, prophesy much Good to the Country.

Saturday, March 16.

IN the Forenoon, an English Minister, belonging to the Garrison of Port Royal, was at our Church; and after Service, went with us to our Lodgings. He was glad to see us, and our

Saltzburgers,

Saltzburgers, and assured us of his constant Friendship and Assistance; and he will take Care to get our Habits made, and buy what is wanting in Charles-town. We intend to receive the Sacrament in Savannah, for which we prepare our selves, and our Congregation.

By Mr. Oglethorpe's Fatherly Care, our Saltzburgers have got their Provision for a Fortnight before-hand, as Bread, Rice, Flower, Meat, Pease, and Sugar: Afterwards, they are to have it for 3 Months, so that they can divide and use it as they please, every one according to their Family. Besides this, Mr. Oglethorpe hath given every one six Pound of Bread, as at Present, and assured them of his further Affection and Care. Which Goodness makes the People rejoice, and bless Go D. Mrs. Rothe, who hath been some Days sick, and is near her Time, bath all that she asks for, out of the Storehouse. Orders were likewise given for our Maintenance; but we told them, we had received our Salary; and therefore we desired nothing, but that this Benefaction might bestowed upon others.

Sunday, March 17.

THOUGH it is but yet Beginning of the Spring here, it hath for some Days past been hot, which makes the Nights, Mornings, and Evenings more pleasant. To every House is allotted a good Spot of Ground, of which the People make Gardens, where they may have all sorts of Fruit and Herbs. But at present there is very little Greens in them, because they have but lately been made. All Houses and Gardens are laid out in a Mathematical Equality; which will make a fine Shew, when they come to Perfection. The People have Horses, Cows, Fowls, &c. in plenty; yet Milk, Eggs, and other Victuals, (except Pork) is much dearer than in Germany; because, They do not care to kill the Cattle, rob the Calves of the Milk, nor nor take the Eggs, for fear of lessening the Breed. For as the Settlement is but new, they are eagerly desirous of increasing their Stock; and the Cows go Day and Night in the Woods, with Bells on their Necks; The greatest Labour, is the cutting down and clearing away of the Trees, for the Country is all covered with Woods.

Monday, March 18.

ONE of us dined this Day with an English Merchant, where the English Minister was present; and in their Discourse they talk'd of the Saltzburgers, whom they commended very much, as as being laborious and religious, whereby they gave a good Example to the Inhabitants here. They came twice a Day from their Tent to our Chapel, where we preach the Word of

GOD

GOD to them, and pray with them an Hour: And several English People being also present, we have perceived that they admire them, because they answer our Questions so readily, and use the Bible, old and young. We wish that every one of our Congregation had a Bible, then GoD would give more.

Blessing to our Devotion.

Tuesday, March 19.

MR. Oglethorpe went last Friday with the Commissary, Mr. Zwefler, Mr. Gronau, and a Saltzburger, to the Place where we are to live with our Saltzburgers, in order to shew them the Ground where they are to build their Houses. This Day the Commissary and Mr. Zwefler return'd back, and inform'd us much of the Goodness and Fertility of the Ground, as also of the Goodness of the Indians. When they promise a Thing, they keep their Word, and would rather die than go from it. If they find one in a Lye, they account him unworthy to look upon, or shake Hands with. An Old Man, one of the Wisest among them, believed, and told them, That the Supreme Being would soon send them some Person that would shew them the right Way to Wisdom, (by which they mean. Religion) though He might not live to see it. They seldom ask for any Thing of any Body; but if one offers them any Thing, they do not refuse it. They love Equality; and will be pleased with our Saltzburgers, who both eat and labour in common. They very much observe Peoples Behaviour: They hate self-interested People. They reckon themselves all Gentlemen, and will do nothing but what they think to be generous: They account labouring and working for Hire to be a Slavery: therefore they will not work for Gain. They reckon it a Shame to wear Breeches. When they go a Hunting, they wear Boots of woollen Cloth. Some of them are willing to send their Children to our School: Of these Children we shall by degrees learn some Words. Mrs. Musgrove, † who lives here, and is Daughter of an English Man by an Indian Woman, and speaks the Creek Language, is a very good Christian, and gave the Indians some Notions of the Holy Scriptures.

We have learn'd some words of their Language; for instance, TUTZ, Fire; a66, the Sun; (vxxw, House; sixa, the Heel; apaxx, Stockings; pea, a Dog.

WE designed to celebrate the Memory of our Arrival here, and to receive the Sacrament all together; but we hear, that to-morrow Morning eight young Men of our Saltzburgers are

+ She is Wife to Mr. Musgrove, the Interpreter before mentioned.

to

to go to our Settlement, in order to build some Houses against the Arrival of the Women, Children, and the rest of the Saltzburgers; therefore these few are to receive the Sacrament tomorrow Morning early. We prepared them this Day, according to the Form used in the German Chapel in St. James's in London. Three Indians were present, who behaved with great Decency and Reverence. Mr. Oglethorpe going to Purrisburg, took with him one of us, viz. Mr. Gronau, and recommended to him to preach to the Germans there, which he accordingly did. There are three Families of our Lutheran Confession. And Mr. Gronau having preached before them out of Gal. ii. 20. they were very glad, and resolved to come constantly to our Settlement, which is but a few Miles from Purrisburg, to hear the Word of God, and to receive the Sacrament. They reckon the Saltzburgers very happy, in having their own Ministers, for at Purrisburg they are now without a Minister.

Wednesday, March 20.

THIS Morning early, Mr. Zwefler and eight Saltzburgers, who were to go to-day to build the Houses, received the Sacrament, in presence of some others of our People. After a Psalm was sung, and Prayers said, a Sermon was preached before them out of Matt. xxii. 1. (1.) Of the great Mercy of GOD towards Men: (2.) Of the Way how to become meet for his Mercy. After this, the Communion was perform'd. The English Minister was present at the Communion; and yesterday likewise, when Mr. Rothe's Child was Baptized, who was born here since our Arrival: He was very much pleased with our Communicants, and the whole Order of our Divine Service; and afterwards, at the House of one of the Magistrates, who had invited him and one of us to Breakfast, he spoke in a very Christian manner of our Communion. The rest of the Saltzburgers are to receive the Sacrament next Sunday.

MR. Oglethorpe hath desired that one of us should go with the eight Saltzburgers to our Settlement, in order to preach the Word of GOD to them, before they go to work, and after. And because I am much taken up with writing Letters, and am to administer the Sacrament to the Saltzburgers who remain. here, Mr. Gronau hath taken this Journey upon him.

THE Saltzburgers have (as the other Settlers in Georgia) received a Gift from the Trustees, of Arms, Houshold Goods, and working Tools, viz. Kettles, Pots, Dishes, Saws, Axes, Shovels, &c.

Three German Miles.

Thursday,