SURVEYOR'S POEM

BY JOHN GOODMAN CSBC Nov. 7, 1843

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It was on Tuesday the Seventh of November

We began the work as I do remember

As we glided along to a little thick branch

We had to low our heads before in it we could launch

The next thing's a pond that had Cypress not few

It was so thick we could not see Clear through

Bulloch Bay is the next thing that we spide

With Brindy's thick head stuck out of its side

And advancing along we drew near to it

And it was so thick we could not walk through it

Taking an offset and Surrounding it near

We found it too thick for a raccoon or a deer

Now notice the line and see it well tried

You'll find it in width full one mile wide

With briers and bushes spread over that flat

I think it will do for a possom and cat

Bulloch's bay surrounded we'll pursue our course

But find boggy branch if possible worse

In penetrating of it we find it quite tuff

With briers and bushes with all very rough

It was all swamp without any run

When we got in one quarter we had just begun

It four times that distance with all that quite bad

Everything in the center looked silent and sad

With much ado we got out of it

Then steared our course and drew off from it

The next thing we met with was the Catail Pond

Of that portion we was quite fond

It was open and level and with all dry

You may wonder at our fondness and that is why

Through other Ponds and Plantations too

We kept our course and onward did pursue

Then we did strike the head of Mill Creek

Where we had to go slow and withall had to creep

Its is in width equal to Bays Bulloch and Bog

And is almost too thick for a cooter or frog

It was so thick we had to retreat

And take an offset to where we could peepe

We struck that place that is called Poplar head,

[p. 270]

Where cane brake and it together doth wed

And offset we took and round it we did go

Where we left a big thick that is full two miles through

Then onward we went with a great hurray

Till we struck that place that is called becks bay

Through it we went pretty tolerable slick

For it tis not wide nor not very thick

Then onward we strove to the place called Black creek

And through it we went near where Billey does sleep

And as I've taken my pains without knowing the pay

I'le haste to the place that's now called wolfs Bay

In it we wnt and how's the thick say's you?

It's briers and bushes full one quarter through

And as I'm getting near the end of my row

Look on my Plat there Bluf Branch will show

On for Ogeechee we steered our course

With no expectation that we should go across

To reach that point we have thus intended

So we've got there now and our line is thus ended

By John Goodman C.S.B.C.

Surveyed Nov. 7 1843."