the moravians in georgia-第13部分
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at were their chief articles of diet； for bread cost so much that they soon gave it up entirely； substituting cornmeal mush； and butter was so dear as to be entirely out of the question。 During the summer months which preceded the harvest； they could get neither corn； rice nor beans at the store； so lived on mush； salt…meat； and the beans they themselves had planted。 Fresh meat was a great treat； particularly when it enabled them to prepare nourishing broth for their sick； and once Rose shot a stag； giving them several good meals； but this happened so seldom as to do little toward varying the monotony of their fare。
Drinking water was held to be responsible for the swollen feet and nausea from which many of them suffered； so they made a kind of sassafras beer； which proved palatable and healthful； and used it until they had become accustomed to the climate； when they were able to drink the water。
When the Moravians came to Georgia they brought with them a little ready money； the gift of English friends； and their cash payments secured them good credit at the Trustees' store。 Other merchants sought their patronage； but they decided to run an account at one place only； and thought Mr。 Causton； as the Trustees' agent； would give them the most liberal treatment。 Their hardest time financially； as well as regarding health； was during the summer； when credit came to be accorded grudgingly； and finally Spangenberg； personally； borrowed 15 Pounds sterling； and applied it on their account； which restored their standing in Mr。 Causton's eyes。 On Feb。 8th； 1736； they decided to buy enough corn； rice and salt…meat to last until harvest； having learned by sad experience how very dear these necessities were later in the year。 Very little work had been done which brought in ready money； for their time had been fully occupied in building their house and clearing the land； but all things were prepared for the coming of the second company； with whose assistance they expected to accomplish much。 In February the two carpenters were engaged to build a house for Mr。 Wagner； a Swiss gentleman who had recently arrived； and rented one of the Moravian cabins temporarily； and this was the beginning of a considerable degree of activity。
The intercourse of the Moravians with the other residents of Savannah was much impeded by their ignorance of the English language； and it occurred to Spangenberg that it might be a good thing to take an English boy； have him bound to them according to custom； and let them learn English by having to speak to him。 About July a case came to his knowledge that roused all his sympathies； and at the same time afforded a good opportunity to try his plan。 〃I have taken a four…year…old English boy into our family。 He was born in Charlestown； but somehow found his way to Savannah。 His father was hanged； for murder I have heard； and his mother has married another man； and abandoned the child。 A woman here took charge of him； but treated him most cruelly。 Once she became angry with him； took a firebrand； and beat him until half his body was burned； another time she bound him； and then slashed him with a knife across the back； and might have injured him still more if a man had not come by and rescued him。 The magistrates then gave him to other people； but they did not take care of him； and hearing that he was a bright child； I decided to offer to take him。 The Magistrates gladly agreed； and will write to his relatives in Charlestown； and if they do not claim him he will be bound to us。 He is already proving useful to the Brethren； as he speaks English to them； and they are rapidly learning to speak and to understand。 I am sending him to an English school； as I would rather he would not learn German； but being bright he is learning a good deal of it from the Brethren。〃
On October 31st a widow and her seven…year…old son were received into their household。 The woman was in destitute circumstances； and anxious to work； so after four weeks' trial she was installed as maid； and promised 14。00 a year wages。 She proved to be quiet and industrious； but not very bright。 On Dec。 17th another boy； six years old； was taken； his mother being dead； and his father a day…laborer who could not care for him。
Of the Indians the Moravians had seen a good deal； but no start had been made toward teaching them； except that some of their words had been learned。 Spangenberg decided that the only way to master their language would be to go and live among them； and this Rose professed himself willing to do as soon as he could be spared。 With Tomochichi they were much pleased。 〃He is a grave； wise man； resembling one of the old Philosophers； though with him it is natural； not acquired。 Were he among a hundred Indians； all clothed alike； one would point him out and say； ‘that is the king。'〃 When the Indians came to the Moravian cabins they were courteously received； and supplied with food and drink； often remaining as silent listeners at the evening service。 In turn their good will took the form of a gift of grouse or dried venison； which the Moravians gratefully received。
The English were very anxious to keep the friendship of these Indians； on whom much of their safety depended； and when one of the nations came five or six hundred miles to renew a treaty with them； they planned a spectacle which would at once please and impress them。 All the settlers were put under arms； and led out to meet them； saluting them with a volley of musketry。 With great pomp they were conducted into the town； presented with guns； clothing； etc。； and then； through an interpreter； they were assured of the good will and faith of the English； and urged to be true to the treaty； and protect the settlement against those Indian tribes who were under French and Spanish influence。
Spangenberg was ordered out with the others； but excused himself on the ground of weakness from his recent illness； and when the officials offered to depart from their custom； and allow one of Zinzendorf's 〃servants〃 to take his place； he explained that the Moravians did not understand English； and knew nothing of military manoeuvres。 During the first year the question of military service was not sufficiently prominent to cause real uneasiness； but Spangenberg foresaw trouble； and wrote to Herrnhut； urging that the matter be given serious consideration。
When the Moravians passed through London they had fully explained their position to Gen。 Oglethorpe； who promised them exemption； but they had no written order from the Trustees to show to the local officials； and not even a copy of the letter in which reference to the subject was made。 As Count Zinzendorf's 〃servants〃 nine of them were ineligible； but Spangenberg； as a free…holder； was expected to take part in the weekly drill； which he quietly refused to do。
All free…holders were likewise expected to take their turn in the Watch； composed of ten men； who patrolled the town by night and day。 Spangenberg admitted that the Watch was necessary and proper； but decided that he had better not take a personal share in it； other than by hiring some one to take his place； which was permitted。 As the turn came every seventeen days； and a man expected fifty cents for day and one dollar for night duty each time； this was expensive； doubly so because the officers demanded a substitute for the absent Nitschmann also。 Twice had Spangenberg been before the Court； attempting to have the matter adjusted； but he found that this； like many other things； could not be settled until Gen。 Oglethorpe came。 〃All men wait for Gen。 Oglethorpe； it is impossible to describe how they long for him。〃 The Salzburgers especially wished for him； for they did not like the place where they had settled； and wanted permission to move to a more favorable location which they had chosen。
On the 14th of February； 1736； Capt。 Thomson arrived； bringing letters from England； and one to Spangenberg announced that the second company of Moravians was on the way and might soon be expected。 At three o'clock in the morning of February 17th； the town was roused by the sound of bells and drums。 Thinking it meant fire； the Moravians rushed out； but learned that Gen。 Oglethorpe's ship had reached Tybee； and the people were awakened to welcome him。 Full of interest to learn whether the second company was with him the Moravians paused for a hasty meal before going to meet the ship； when to their great joy Bishop Nitschmann appeared before them； 〃and his face was to us as the face of an Angel！〃
Chapter IV。 Reinforcements。
The 〃Second Company〃。
Before David Nitschmann； the 〃Hausmeister〃； left London； after the sailing of the first Moravian company for Georgia； he presented to the Trustees a series of propositions； the acceptance of which would open the way for a large increase of Moravian emigration。 The proposals were； in brief； that the Trustees should give credit to the Moravians to the extent of 500 Pounds sterling； which； deducting the 60 Pounds advanced to the first company； would provide passage money and a year's provision for fifty…five more of Count Zinzendorf's 〃servants〃； the loan to be repaid； without interest； in five years； and to bear interest at the
