第 15 节
作者:一半儿      更新:2021-02-20 18:38      字数:9321
  dispute with the Salzburgers; but the friendliest relations existed; and the
  Moravian cabins were always open to them when they came to Savannah。
  Nor   were   they   slow   to   avail   themselves   of   the   kindness。   Gronau           and
  Bolzius often lodged with them; and others came in groups of nine or ten
  to spend   the night。During   the  evening stories   would   be   exchanged   as   to
  their circumstances in the home lands; and their reasons for leaving there;
  and   then sometimes   the  hosts   would   spread   hay  upon   the  floor  for   their
  guests; at other times give up their own beds; and themselves sleep upon
  the floor。
  With their nearer neighbors in Savannah; they were also upon cordial
  terms;   though   they   found   few   who   cared   for   religious   things。The   Jews
  were     particularly     courteous      to  them;    inviting    Spangenberg        into   their
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  Synagogue; and bringing gifts of meat and fish on several occasions when
  help was sorely needed on account of the illness of some of their number; …
  … for Riedel was not the only one who was seriously ill; though no others
  died。 All the conditions in Georgia were so different from what they were
  accustomed        to  in   Germany       that  it  took    them    some     time    to  adapt
  themselves; and longer to become really acclimated; and they noticed that
  the same was true of all new…comers。 All of the Moravians were sick in
  turn;   many   suffering   from   frosted   feet;   probably   injured   on   the   voyage
  over;     but    Spangenberg;        Toeltschig;     Haberecht       and    Demuth       were
  dangerously ill。Nearly all of the medicine brought from Europe was gone;
  and   what   they   could   get   in   Savannah   was   expensive   and   they   did   not
  understand how to use it; so they were forced to depend on careful nursing
  and simple remedies。 Turpentine could easily be secured from the pines;
  Spangenberg found an herb which he took to be camomile; which had a
  satisfactory effect; and with the coming of the cooler autumn weather most
  of the party recovered their health。
  Probably   the   food   was   partly   responsible   for   their   troubles;   though
  they tried to be careful; and cooked everything thoroughly。 Rice and salt…
  meat 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
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  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
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  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  pleas