dated 24th of February, 1736, declares, “What surprizes me, beyond expression, is his abstemiousness and hard living.  Though even dainties are plentiful, he makes the least use of them; and such is his hardiness, that he goes through the woods wet or dry, as well as any Indian.  Moreover, his humanity so gains upon all here, that I have not words to express their regard and esteem for him.”  He further adds, “They have a Minister here, Mr. McLeod, a very good man, who is very useful in instructing the people in religious matters, and will intermeddle with no other affairs."[1] How commendably prudent, as well as altogether proper, was this avoidance of secular topics and party discussions in preaching; and how conducive to social accordance and peace, as well as spiritual edification, was soon apparent in the lamentable effects of a different use of the ministerial function in the other settlements.

[Footnote 1:  Gentleman’s Magazine, 1736, p. 229.]

Having remained a few days with his favorite Highland corps, he returned to St. Simons, where he found Tomo Chichi, Toonahowi, and a party of Indians consisting of about forty men, “all chosen warriors and good hunters;” who had come down to show him what Islands they claimed as having belonged to their nation, but which had been ceded to him by treaty, and to which they would now give him the formal possession.  To accomplish this, the General fitted out an expedition, to take them with him in the two ten-oared boats, with Major Horton, Mr. Tanner, and some other gentlemen as his escort; and a sufficient number of able hands both as boat-men and soldiers, and to man the periagua,[1] with Highlanders under the command of Captain Hugh Mackay.  He the more readily engaged in this excursion from an impatient desire to gain intelligence of Major Richard, and the deputation to St. Augustine.

[Footnote 1:  The Periagua is a long flat-bottomed boat, carrying from twenty to thirty-five tons.  It is constructed with a forecastle and a cabin; but the rest is open, and there is no deck.  It has two masts, which the sailors can strike, and sails like those of schooners.  It is rowed, generally, with two oars only.]

They set out on the 18th of March.  On the first day they visited an island in the mouth of the Alatamaha, sixteen miles long, and from one to five broad; opposite the entrance of the great Latilla river.  By the Indians it was called WISSOE, Sassafras; but the Spaniards had named it San Pedro.  Toonahowi, pulling out a watch that had been given him by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, desired that it should bear his name; saying, “He gave me this watch, that we might know how time went; and we will remember him while time goes; and this place must have his name, that others may be reminded of him.”  The General left Captain Mackay and the Highlanders here, with directions to build a fort on the high ground, commanding the passes of the river; which, at their desire, should be called St. Andrews.  On the south-east part of this island another strong fort was afterwards built, called Fort William, which commanded Amelia Sound, and the inland passage from St. Augustine.