THIS EVERYDAY LIFE

Well as promised in last blog, I'll let you accompany on my colonial exploration of Darien and McIntosh County. Primarily the reason for doing so is to check out the importance of this little slice of Coastal Georgia to the foundling Georgia colony. I think I mentioned earlier that Georgia was the last colony to be established. Thus earning itself the nickname "Baby". Interesting to note that its leader James Oglethorpe, convinced King George to allow him to settle Georgia with English misfits. Petty criminals, debt ridden Englishmen-the sort of people that were not considered the pillars of British society. There were two very interesting laws that were incorporated into the charter; 1) No slavery and 2) be friendly to the Indians. Well needless to say both were eventually ignored. Primarily done so for economic reasons. In the first case the Europeans (for health reasons) found it very very difficult to adapt to the climate of this coastal swampy, disease ridden and marshy environment. Sickness ran rampant and the colony was floundering. Add that to the fact that their northerly neighboring South Carolina was experiencing tremendous economic prosperity from the institution of slavery, it was only a matter of time before the concept and practice was allowed in Georgia. The Africans were perfect people for forced assistance to tame this new and wild world to the Europeans. As for the Indians, well there was land that was needed so out went that law. When you add that to the fact the Guale Indians to the south were more or less aligned with the Spanish, their days were numbered. Funny thing about the Gaule, it seems that although they had a loose confederation with the Spanish, it was not beyond them to turn and at times massacre them also. Smart folk the Gaule but technology got the best of them. Damn poor folk, Gaule was not their ethnic designation anyhow, it was penned upon them by the Spanish. Sorry to say folks this writer does not know what they called themselves either. What has all this got to do with Darien, McIntosh County and the High Scots? Well as I mentioned earlier this area was the southernmost boundary of the colony and as such was in much dispute between the Spanish and English. This area served as sort of a no mans land between the two. The Spanish and their Native American allies found it perfect for launching forays into the more populated areas. This buffer zone had to be occupied for protection of the rest of the colony. The British hit upon the idea of settling the area with Highland Scots. A people know to the British as being hardy and doughty fighters. The Scots settled the area and did their part. They kept the Spanish and Indians at bay. Interesting folk these colonial Scots were. When the issue of slavery in the colony arose there were pro and con camps. In the pro camp there was a faction that advocated slavery for economic reasons and practiced as in all the other colonies-indefinitely. Also there was a pro faction that wanted it for the economic reasons but wanted a time period established. Somewhat like the bonded indenture that was prevalent for some of the European colonist. In the con camp were those the vehemently opposed slavery on the practical grounds that it was stupid to introduce another hostile element within their midst. Hell the Spanish and Native Americans were enough. Also in this camp was a faction that opposed the forced bondage of human beings as being downright immoral. Well the out shoot of the matter was (as in virtually all human endeavors) the pros won out. Needless to say I do not have to tell you the outcome. But I can tell you that the present decedents of those Africans in coastal South Carolina and Georgia are know by some as Geechies and others as Gullahs. Interesting these people. They developed a dialect, accent and culture of their own. Both of which at present are virtually non-existent. As a matter of fact there is a vigorous move afoot to try and record it all before it slides into oblivion. About the only place the accent and portions of the dialect exist today is among some elderly African Americans residing on some coastal barrier islands of South Carolina and Georgia. People when I visit these islands today it takes me back to my preadolescence days. Listening to the rich melodic sing song of the dialect. The accent is still there somewhat but the dialect for the most part is gone. I remember taking a friend of mine to Sapelo Island years ago. Her response to the residents' language was, "damn they sound like Caribbeans." Same folk. But I am straying somewhat from my original topic. I'll get back to this one at a later time in a later blog outlining the importance these people played in the settlement of the coastal portion of the colony. Without them the colony(probably others also) would have failed. But before I move on let me just add this, rice which was a great crop that provide economic commodity for both Georgia and South Carolina was introduced and its growing methods were taught to the Europeans by these forced labor Africans. Ok move it Rastus. Getting back to the importance of the protection of this area. Oglethorpe established a fort that was to be manned and used as a central point from which the Scots could sally forth and defend against Spanish and Native American attacks. This fort was named Fort King George and it was established in 1721. It is recognized as the first fort in America. At the state park that bears the fort's name there is a replica of the fort that was built using the original design. I gotta tell you that when you think back on the population status of all the combatants: Spanish, English and Native Americans it was quite an impressive compound. There was also a reconstruction of what the guides called a depiction of the original camp. I don't think I fared that bad in Vietnam. But I guess that is to be expected in trying to establish conditions in a hostile land with little or no material support. The visit there was quite impressive. But even more so was the wild beauty of the surrounding marshlands. God it is so beautiful. I can see why the poet Sidney Lanier used them as objects in his poetry. Their absolute beauty it appears cannot be captured via photography (at least not by me). A painter maybe if he/she is a master of their imagination and craft. Well I gotta go now and sneak and water my recently transplanted azaleas. The governor says we need to pray for rain, but I betcha a rain dance by the Gaule would work just as well. Later.