GEORGIA. 



309 



turbed by many disagreements among the settlers, who were of diflerent sects in religion. 

 Episcopacy was at one time established by law, and dissenters were excluded from the legisla- 

 ture ; but this regulation was annulled by Queen Anne. The separation from North Carohna 

 has been already mentioned. For some time previous to the Revolution, the government was 

 administered by officers appointed by the crown. After this, the colonial forms were adhered 

 to, till 1790, when the present constitution was established. This has since been twice 

 amended. 



CHAPTER XXII. GEORGIA. 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. This State is bounded N. by North Carohna and Tennessee , 

 E. by South Carolina and the ocean ; S. by Florida ; W. by Alabama. It extends from 30° 

 30' to 35° N. lat. and from 80° 50' to 86° W. long., being 300 miles in length from north to 

 south, and 250 broad, and containing 62,000 square miles. 



2. Face of the Country. In the northwestern part of the State there are some mountain- 

 ous ridges, belonging to the Blue Ridge and Kittatinny chains, but these are of no great ex- 

 tent. Like the Carolinas, Georgia consists of three zones or belts ; the flat, maritime belt, 

 100 miles in breadth, much of which is daily flooded by the tides ; the sand-hill belt, or pine 

 barrens, extending inland to the lower falls of the rivers, and the hilly and mountainous tract. 

 The latter is a broken, elevated region, rising from J ,200 to 2,000 feet above the level of the 

 sea. 



3. Rivers. Georgia occupies a great inclined plane, sloping down from the Appalachian 

 System to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico, and discharging its waters into those 

 basins, the Savannah, the Alatamaha, and the Ogeechee into the former, and the Appala- 

 chicola into the latter. The Savannah forms the northeastern boundary, and empties itself 

 mto the Atlantic Ocean, after a course of about 600 miles. It is navigable for large vessels 

 to Savannah, 15 miles from the sea, and to Augusta, 250 miles, for steamboats of 150 tons. 

 Beyond this there is boat navigation 150 miles. The Ogeechee has a course of about 200 

 miles ; sloops ascend 40 miles, and large boats to Louisville. The Alatamaha -is formed by 

 the junction of the Oconee and Ocmulgee. The tide flows up 25 miles, and large vessels go 

 up to Darien, 12 miles. The Oconee and Ocmulgee have been ascended to Milledgeville 

 and IMacon, in steamboats, but the navigation of these rivers is chiefly carried on in large, flat- 

 bottomed boats, on account of the shoals and rapids. The Saint Mary's, which forms, in part, 

 the boundary between Georgia and Florida, takes its rise in an extensive swamp, called Oke- 

 finokee Swamp, and pursues a winding course to the sea. The tide flows up the river 50 miles, 

 and its mouth forms a commodious harbor. The Chattahoochee and Flint rivers, drain nearly 

 all the western part of the State, and by their junction form the Appalachicola, which traverses 

 Florida. The former rises in the Blue Ridge, and has a course of about 450 miles. Steam- 

 boats ascend to Columbus, 300 miles, and the produce of the upper counties is brought down 

 stream in boats Flint River has a course of 300 miles, and is navigable for steamboats, to 

 Bainbridge, 50 miles. 



4. Islands. Like the preceding State, Georgia is bordered toward the sea with a range of 

 small islands and marshy tracts, intersected by channels and rivulets, which are navigable for 

 small vessels. These islands consist of a rich grey soil, called hummock land. In their natu 

 ral state, they are covered with forests of live oak, pine, and hickory ; but under cultivation 

 they produce the best cotton in the world, called Sea-island cotton. 



5. Climate. There is little difference between the climate of this State, and that of South 

 Carolina. The northern part is mountainous and healthy. In the swampy districts of the 

 State, fevers are common in the warm season. The islands are the most salubrious spots in 

 this quarter. 



6. Soil. The coast within the islands is a salt marsh, beyond which is a narrow belt of 

 good land, similar to the islands. This is succeeded by the Pine Barrens, which are inter- 

 spersed with swampy tracts. The borders of the rivers are low and marshy, and subject to 

 inundations. These parts are applied to the cultivation of rice. The Pine Barrens extend 

 from 50 to 100 miles from the sea, and are succeeded by a region of sand hills, 30 or 40 miles 

 wide, diversified here and there with a verdant spot, and bounded on the north by the elevated 



