One "lady"
tried to shoot him, and when he seized her hands and took away her pistol,
she maliciously bit a great piece out of his arm. Still he made
two more visits to the place, and then in "utter despair of doing good there,"
took his final leave of Frederica.
Work Among the Indians.
When the Moravians adopted the conversion of the Indians
as their main object for settling in America, they were greatly influenced by
the attractive descriptions of the "wild people" which were being published.
In a "Report", ascribed to Gen. Oglethorpe, it is stated
that "nothing is lacking for their conversion to the Christian faith
except a knowledge of their language, for they already have
an admirable conception of `morals', and their conduct
agrees perfectly therewith. They have a horror of adultery,
and disapprove of polygamy. Thieving is unknown to them.
Murder is considered an abominable crime, and no one may be killed except
an enemy, when they esteem it a virtue." This, like too many a description
written then and now to exploit a colonizing scheme,
was far too good to be true. The Indians proved apt learners,
but of the vices rather than the virtues of the English,
and drunkenness with all its attendant evils, was quickly introduced.
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