A Voyage To Georgia. Part 5.

The Boat returned which had been sent to Port Royal, with Answer, that the Refreshments which had been bespoke from England, for the Use of the Colony, were not ready.  She immediately proceeded up to Savannah, having Packets of Letters for Mr.Oglethorpe, who in the Evening return’d from thence in a Scout-boat.  This was a strong-built swift Boat, with three swivel Guns and ten Oars, kept for the visiting the River-Passages, and Islands, and for preventing the Incursions of Enemies, or Runaways, from whence it is call’d Scout-boat.  The Crew is composed of Men bred in America, bold and hardy, who lie out in the Woods, and upon the Water Months together, without a House or Covering.  Most of them are good Hunters or Fishers.  By killing Deer and other Game they can subsist themselves, in case their Provisions should fail; but indeed, on these Sea-islands, no one can starve, since if, at the worst, a Man was lost, there are Oysters and Shell-fish enough to subsist him.

Begun the 15^th of October, 1735.

1735-6. February.

            Mr. Oglethorpe brought with him fresh Meat, and other Refreshments in Plenty, which he distributed to the new Comers, consisting of fresh Beef, fresh Pork, Venison, wild Turkeys, soft Bread (the Word soft is put to distinguish it from Biscuit, because at Sea they call Biscuit, Bread) Strong-beer, Small-beer, Turnips, and Garden-greens; and this in such Plenty, that there was enough for the whole Colony for some Days.