234 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



long residence at Smyrna had become familiar with 

 the dispositions and the habits of the Greeks, and him- 

 self had married a Greek woman, was especially active 

 in this enterprise. He brought together some 500 

 families of Greeks, or 1500 souls, from the Archi- 

 pelago, and took them to Florida. They were as- 

 signed land 70-80 miles to the south of Augustin, and 

 to the settlement was given the name New Smyrna. 

 This colony extended 7 English miles in length ; that is 

 to say, there was built for each family a separate house 

 at determinate distances, with a suitable acreage 

 appurtenant. 



The recruitment, maintenance, and transport of these 

 Greek families cost the undertakers great sums ; but 

 the colonists were pledged to work the land 7-8 years 

 for the benefit of the undertakers, so as to recompense 

 them in a measure for the expence to which they had 

 been put. After that time each family was to have the 

 land, now worked and improved, on lease. It was not 

 found practicable at once to engage largely in vine 

 and silk culture, which were the main objects of the 

 plan, such enterprises requiring a good many years 

 before any profit is to be expected from them. Atten- 

 tion must first be given to the necessary support of 

 these people and to the interests of the undertakers. 

 Maize and indigo were thus the first products had in 

 view, the land being once cleared. But the delicate 

 Greeks were no ways pleased with the unavoidable 

 hardships of subduing wild land. To be sure, for 

 making the work easier the company had provided for 

 negroes who were to be hired out among the Greeks ; 

 but unluckily the first ship, bringing 500 negroes from 

 Africa, was wrecked on the coast of Florida and the 



