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the wash of the ocean.

Between these islands are the entrances of the ri

vers from the interior country, winding through the low falt marflies, and delivering their waters into the founds, which form capacious harbours of from three to eight miles over, and which communicate with each other by parallel falt creeks. The principat lands are, Shidaway, Waffaw, Offabaw, St. Catharine's, Sapelo, Frederica, Jekyl, Cumberland and Amelia.

The foil of the main land, adjoining the matthes and creeks is nearly of the fame quality with that of the islands, except that which borders on those rivers and creeks which stretch far back into the country. On thete, immediately after you leave the falts, begin the valuable rice fwamps, which, on cultivatien, afford the pr fent principal flaple of commerce. Moft of the rice lands lie on rivers, which as far as the tide flows, are called tide lands; or on creeks and particular branches of water, flowing in fome deeper or lower parts of the lands, which are called inland fwamps, and extend back in the country from fifteen to twenty-five miles, beyond which very little rice is planted, though it will grow exceedingly well, as experiment has proved, one hundred and twenty miles back from the fea. The intermediate lands, between these creeks and rivers, are of an inferior quality, being of a grey foil, covered chiefly with pine, and a fort of wild grafs and fmall reeds, which afford a large range of feeding ground for ftock both fummer and winter. Here and there are interfperfed oak and hiccory ridges, which are of a better foil, and produce good crops of corn and indigo; but the fe are very little elevated above the circumjacent lands. The lands adjoining the rivers, and, for an hundred miles in a direct line from the fea, continue a breadth from two to three or four miles, and wherever, in that distance, you find a piece of high land that extends to the bank of the river on one fide, you may expect to find the low or fwamp ground proportionably wide on the oppofite fide of the river. This feems to be an invariable rule till you come to that part where the river cuts the mountains.

The foil between the rivers, after you leave the fea board and the edge of the swamps, at the diftance of twenty or thirty miles, changes from a grey to a red colour, on which grows plenty of oak and hiccory, with a confiderable intermixture of pine. In fome places it is gravelly, but fertile, and fo continues for a number of miles, gradually deepening the reddish colour of the earth, till it changes into what is called the Mulatto foil, confifting of a black. mould and red earth. The composition is darker or lighter according as there is a larger or fmaller proportion of the black or red earth in it. The mulatto lands are generally frong, and yield large crops of wheat, tobacco, corn, &c. To this kind of land fucceeds by turns a foil nearly black and very rich, on which grow large quantities of black walnut, mulberry, &c. This fucceffion of different fotis continues uniform and regular, though there are fome large veins of all the different foils intermixed; and what is more remarkable, this fuccellion, in the order mentioned, Are:ches acrofs this ftate, nearly parallel with the fea coaft, and extends through the feveral flates nearly in the fame direction, to the banks of Hudfon river. In this flare are produced, by culture, rice, indigo, coton, filk, (though not in large quandiues) Indian corn. potatoes, oranges, figs, pomegranates, &c. Rice, at prefent, is the ftaple commodity; and as a fmall proportion only of the rice ground is under cultivation, the quantity raifed in future must be much greater than at prefent. But the rapid increase of the inhabitants, chiefly by emigrations, whofe attention is turned to the railing of tobacco, and the vaft extent of land, with a richness of foil fuited to the culture of that plant, renders is probable,

that tobacco will shortly become the flaple of this ftate. Cotton was formerly planted only by the poorer clafs of people, and that only for family use. They planted of two kinds, the annual and the Weft-Indian; the former is low and planted every year; the balls of which are very large, and the phlox long, ftro g, and perfectly white. The latter is a tall perennial plant, the flalk fomewhat fhrubby, feveral of which rise up from the root for feveral years fucceffively, the ftems of the former year being killed by the winter frofts. The ball of West-India cotton are not quite fo large as the other, but the phlox or wool is long, extremely fine, filky and white. A plantation of this kind will last feveral years with moderate labour and care. The culture

of cotton is now much more attended to; feveral indigo planters have converted their plantations into cotton fields. The tobacco lands are equally well adapted to wheat, which may hereafter make an important article of com

merce.

On the dry plains grow large crops of fweet potatoes, which are found to afford a wholefome nourishment, and from which is made by diftillation, a kind of whisky, tolerably good, but inferior to that made of rye. It is by properly macerating and washing this root that a fediment or flarch is made, which has obtained the name of fago, and anfwers all the purposes of the Indian fago.

Moft of the tropical fruits would flourish in this State with proper attention. The rice plant has been transplanted, and also the tea plant, of which fuch immenfe quantities are confumed in the United States, was introduced into Georgia by Mr. Samuel Bowen, about the year 1770, from India. The feed was diffeminated, and the plant now grows, without cultivation, in moft of the fenced lots in Savannah.

From many confiderations we may, perhaps, venture to predict, that the fouth-western part of the State, and parts of Eaft and Weft-Florida, which lie adjoining, will, in fome future time, become the vineyard of America.

Religion and Character.

THE inhabitants of this State, who profefs the Chriftian Religion,

are of the Prefbyterian, Epifcopalian, Baptift, and Methodist denominations. They have but a few regular minifters among them.

No general character will apply to the inhabitants at large. Collected from different parts of the world, as intereft, neceflity, or inclination led them, their character and manners muft, of course, partake of all the varieties which diftinguish the feveral flates and kingdoms from whence they came. Their is fo little uniformity. that it is difficult to trace any governing principles among them. An averfion to labour is too predominant, owing in part to the relaxing heat of the climate, and partly to the want of necellity to excite induftry. An open and friendly hofpitality, particularly to flrangers, is an or namental characteriflic of a great part of this people.

Their diverfions are various. With fome, dancing is a favourite amufement; others take a fancied pleafure at the gaming table, which however, frequently terminates in the ruin of their happiness, fortunes, and conftitutions. In the upper counties, horfe-racing and cock-fighting prevail, two cruel diverfions imported from Virginia and the Carolinians, from whence thofe who practife them principally emigrated. But the moft rational and univerfal amufement is hunting; and for this Georgia is particularly well calculated, as the woods abound with plenty of deer, racoons, rabbits, wild turkeys, and

other game; at the fame time the woods are fo thin and free from obftructions that you may generally ride half speed in chace without danger in this amusement pleasure and profit are blended. This exercife more than any other, contributes to health, fits for activity in bufinefs and expertnefs in war: the game also affords them a palatable food, and the skins a profitable article

of commerce.

Trade and Manufactures.

THE chief arricles of export are rice, tobacco, indigo, fago, lumber

of various kinds, naval (tores, leather, deer fkins, fnake root, myrtle and bees wax, corn, and live flock. The planters and farmers raise large flocks of cattle, from one hundred to fifteen hundred head, and fome more.

In return for the enumerated exports, are imported Weft-India goods, teas wines, various articles of cloathing, and dry goods of all kinds. From the northern States, cheese, fish, potatoes, apples, cider, and fhoes. The importa and exports of this State are principally to and from Savannah, which has a fine harbor, and is a place where the principal commercial bufinefs of the State is tranfacted. The trade with the Indians in furs and skins was very confiderable before the war, but has fince been interrupted by the wars in which they have been involved.

The culture of filk and the manufacture of fago are at prefent but little attended to. The people in the lower part of this State manufacture none of their own cloathing for themselves or their negroes: for almost every article of their wearing apparel, as well for their husbandry tools they depend on their merchants, who import them from Great Britain and the northern States. In the upper parts of the country, however the inhabitants manufacture the chief part of their cloathing from cotton, hemp, and flax; and in general inanufactures are on the increate.

State of Literature.

THE literature of this State, which is yet in its infancy, is commer

cing on a plan which affords the most flattering profpects. It feems to have been the defign of the legislature of this State, as far as poffible to unite their literary concerns, and provide for them in common, that the whole might feel the benefit, and no part be neglected or left a prey to party rage, private prejudices and contentions and confequent ignorance, their infeparable attendant. For this purpofe, the literature of this State, like its policy, appears to be confidered as one object, and in the fame manner fubject to common and general regulations for the good of the whole. The charter containing their prefent fyftem of education, was paffed in the year 1785. A college, with ample and liberal endowments, is inflituted in Louifville, a high and healthy part of the country, near the center part of the State. There is alfo provifion made for the inflitution of an academy in each county in the State, to be fupported from the fame funds, and confidered as parts and members of the fame inftitution, under the general fuperintendence and direction of a prefident and board of truflees, appointed for their literary accomplishments, from the different parts of the State, invefted with the cuftomary powers of corporations. The inftitutions thus compofed and united is denominated, “The University of Georgia."

The funds for the fupport of their inftitution are principally in lands, amounting in the whole to about fifty thoufand acres, a great part of which is of the belt quality, and at preient very valuable. There are also nearly fix thousand pounds flerling in lands, houfes and town lots in the town of Augufta. Other public property to the amount of one thousand pounds in each county, has been fet apart for the purposes of building and furnishing their refpećtive academies.

Conflitution.

THE prefent conflitution of this State was formed and eflablished

in the year 1789, and is nearly upon the plan of Conftitution of the United States.

THE

Indians.

HE Muskogee, or Creck Indians, inhabit the middle part of this State, and are the moft numerous tribe of Indians of any within the limits of the United States: their whole number fome years fince was feventeen thou fand two hundred and eighty, of which five thoufand eight hundred and fixty were fighting men. They are compofed of various tribes, who, after bloody wars, thought it good policy to unite and support themfelves against the Chadlaws &c. They conuft of the Appalachies, Alibamas, Abecas Cawittaws, Cocfas, Confhacks, Coofactees, Charfhoomas, Natchez, Oconies, Oakmulgies, Okoboys Pakanas, Taenfas, Talepoofas, Weetumkas, and fome others. Their union has rendered them victorious over the Chaltaws, and formidable to all the nations around them. They are a well made, expert, hardy, fagacious, politic people, extremely jealous of rights and averfe to parting with their lands. They have abundance of tame cattle and fwine, turkeys, ducks, and other poultry; they cultivate tobacco, rice, Indian corn, potatoes, beans, peas, cabbage, melons, and have plenty of peaches, plumbs, grapes, ftrawberries, and other fruits. They are faithful friends, but inveterate enemies; hofpitable to frangers. and honeft ard fair in their dealings. No nation has more contemptible opinion of the white men's faith in general than these people, yet they place great confidence in the United States, and wish to agree with them upon a permanent boundary, over which the fouthern States fhall not trefpafs.

The country which they claim is bounded northward by about the 34th degree of latitude, and extends from the Tombeckbee or Mobile river, to the Atlantic ocean, though they have ceded a part of this tract on the fea coaft, by different treaties, to the State of Georgia. Their principal towns lie in latitude 32°, and longitude 11° 20′ from Philadelphia. They are fettled in a billy but not mountainous country; the foil is fruitful in a high degree, and well watered, abounding in creeks and rivulets from whence they are called the Creek Indians.

The Chadaws, or flat heads, inhabit a very fine and extensive tract of hilJy country, with large and fertile plains intervening, between the Alabama and Miffifippi rivers, in the weltern part of this State. The nation had, not many years ago, forty three towns and villages, in three divifions, containing twelve thoufand one hundred and twenty-three fouls, of which four thousand were fighting men.

The Chickafaws are fettled on the head branches of Tombeckee, Mobile, and Yazon rivers in the north-west corner of the State. Their country is an

extenfive plain, tolerably well watered from fprings, and of a pretty good foil. They have seven towns, the central one of which is in latitude 34° 23′, and longitude 40° 30' weft. The number of fouls in this nation have been formerly reckoned at one thousand seven hundred and twenty-five, of which five hundred and feventy-five were fighting men.

CHA P. XXV.

GENERAL VIEW OF THE UNITED STATES.

The profperous and progreffive Situation of the Commerce of the United States, may be feen from the following comparative flatement:

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Sum total of exports in 1798

Dls. 61,337,411

6,000,000

The military ftrength of this country lies in a well difciplined militia,

which now confifts of about 750,000 men.

The progreffive fate of Exports of the following three cities is worthy of

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Forts belonging to the United States.

FORT on

Dls. 8.000,000

5,500.000

2,500,000

13.000.000

40.000 000

10,000,000

ORT OSWEGO is fituated on the Eaft fide of the mouth of Of wego river and S. E. fide of Lake Ontario in Lat. 43 18 N. and Long. 76 30 W. It is about 155 miles N. E. of Niagara.

Fort Niagara is fituated on the E. fide of Niagara river at its entrance into Lake Ontario. It was built by the French about the year 1725 and delivered up by the British to the United States according to the treaty in 1796. It is a very important poft, 370 miles N. W. of Philadelphia and 561 N. W. of Bofton. N. Lat. 43 21 W. long. 79.

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Michillimakkinak Fort is on the N. of the traits of the fame name. the grand rendezvous of the Indian traders and was delivered up by the British in 1796, it is about 200 miles N. W. of Detroit. N. Lat. 45, 1.

Fort Franklin, was erected in 1787, on the S. W. bank of the Alleghany river, 63 miles N. of Pittsburgh.

Fort Prefque-1fle is on the S. E. fhore of Lake Erie. Lat. 42. N.

Fort Le Beuf is in the N. Western corner of Pennfylvania about 2 miles E. of Small Lake, which is on the N. branch of French Cleck about 14 miles N. of Prefque-Ifle.

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