64 TRAVELS IN 
. 1 * f 
Egmont edate are feveral very large Indian ttU 
muli, which are called Ogeeche mounts, fo named 
from that nation of Indians; who took fhelter here; 
after being driven from their native fettlements on 
the main near Ogeeche river. Here they were con- 
ftantly harafifed by the Carolinians and Creeks, and 
at length (lain by their conquerors, and their bones 
entombed in thefe heaps of earth and Ihells. I ob- 
ferved here the ravages of the common grey cater- 
pillar (Phalena periodica), fo dedrudtive to fored 
and fruit trees, in Pennsylvania, and through the 
northern ftates, by Stripping them of their leaves, in 
the ipring, while young and tender. 
Mr. Egan having bufinefs of importance to tranfe 
act in St. Augudine, preffed me to continue with 
him a few days, when he would accompany me to 
that place, and, if I chofe, I Ihould have a paffage* 
as far as the Cow- ford, on St. John’s, where he would 
procure me a boat to profecute my voyage* 
It may be a fubjedt worthy of fome inquiry, why 
thofe fine iflands, on the coad of Georgia, are fo 
thinly inhabited ; though perhaps Amelia may in 
fome degree plead an exemption, as it is a very fer^ 
tile ifland, on the north border of Eaft Florida, and 
at the capes of St. Mary, the fined harbour in this 
new colony. If I fhould give my opinion, the fol- 
lowing feem to be the mod probable reafons : the 
greated part of thefe are as yet the property of a 
few wealthy planters, who having their refidence 
on the continent, where lands on the large rivers; 
as Savanna, Ogeeche, Alatamaha, St. Me, and others, 
are of a nature and quality adapted to the growth 
of rice, which the planters chiefly rely upon for 
obtaining ready cafh, and purchasing family arti- 
cles ; they fettle a few poor families on their in- 
fular 
