THE INDIANS OF ST. MARY’S.

IT belonged to a member of the once dominant sect of Catholics to glorify his creed and clime, and to set an example to the world, in the establishment of complete religious liberty. To George Calvert, the originator of the scheme for colonizing Maryland, this honor belonged; but, alas! he was not permitted to execute the plans his noble heart conceived, for death snatched him from his labors, ere the boon he contemplated for the world was ready to be given.

But Cecil Calvert was a worthy son of so great a father. He at once entered into all the plans of his deceased parent, and with a veneration that does him credit, resolved that they should be carried out to the fullest extent; and the slightest wish the old lord had expressed in regard to the new colony should be religiously complied with. Bigots sneered at him, enemies maligned, but, conscious of the rectitude of his purpose, he steadily pursued his plans.

Under the guidance of Leonard Calvert, (a brother of the proprietor), some two hundred English gentlemen, and their servants, mostly of the catholic persuasion, sailed for the province, in November, 1633, and after the usual vicissitudes and adventures of a sea voyage at that period, arrived in the Potomac in the spring of 1634. A small party was despatched into the interior to explore the country previous to effecting a permanent settlement; the woods were then all joyous and teeming with grandeur, and loveliness of spring tinting the fair face of nature with that peculiar and fascinating beauty which is better felt than described.

To the sea-worn colonists, the country opened before them as a broad fair haven, where they might worship God free as the air and feel themselves men. The scouts soon returned, and, according to their direction, the party moved up to a spot they had selected on the banks of a clear and silvery stream flowing into the broad river they had first entered. Here, with the usual ceremonies, Calvert took possession, naming the surrounding country “Marie-land,” in honor of “our glorious ladye, the queene;” and in gratitude for their success thus far, they named the river St. Mary.

But the good Cecil, in the wise provision for the wants of his people had not forgotten the rightful lords of the soil, the Indian aborigines. “Entreat them kindly always, I conjure you, endeavor assiduously to cultivate their friendship, and above all take no land from them but what ye might pay therefor,” Such were the mild and benevolent instructions of the proprietor, and faithfully were they carried into execution by his brother, the governor.

Anxious, therefore, to secure his settlement on a firm basis, and to obtain an acknowledged title to the soil, Calvert submitted to a neighboring chief, his propositions to purchase land of him, but received an answer of sullen indifference, “I will neither bid you go nor ask you to stay.” Such was the address and courtesy of the governor, however, and the just and pacific policy of his people, that not only was the stoic warrior won over to their interests, but he also exerted his influence with the neighboring tribes, on behalf of the new comers.

Through his aid a council of the neighboring Indians was soon convened. The governor appeared in pomp, and addressed them, calling them brothers, and asking for a piece of ground, that he and his people might plant corn, and the red man and the pale face would live together in peace and unity. He described to them, in their own exaggerated rhetoric, the power of the King of England, and his master, the Lord of Baltimore, and told them the kind messages he had sent to his forest children.

The Indians replied in the language of kindness and conciliation. “The white man should have land—room enough for both people—plenty room—White chief very good to send word to the Indians.” The governor and chief then embraced each other, and the pipe of peace was passed round the circle, each one gravely taking a few whiffs. A treaty was then made, giving to the settlers a considerable tract of land, within which was the Indian town of Taocomoco.

To this town they gave the name of St. Mary’s, in honor of the Virgin, and the first building erected was a chapel dedicated to her worship. The Indians looked upon the colonists with surprise, they mingled freely with them, and had many curious and amusing questions to ask concerning every thing they saw, and which was all new to them.

One morning a party of them wandered into the church, and gazed with bewildered air upon the pictures and crucifixes with which it was decorated. Shortly after this, one of their number being on a visit to the governor, he presented him with a rosary, having a small crucifix attached; the happy fellow received it with a yell of delight, and ran off to his comrades, whirling up his prize, and they immediately commenced kneeling and crossing themselves in the same manner they had observed the worshippers do in the chapel.

It is something refreshing and ennobling, amid the dark and sickening catalogue of bigotry, slaughter, and desolating wars which disgraced the history of too many of our states, to look back on one green spot, where fellow men were not spurned and despised on account of their creed, and where the poor Indian was treated with kindness.

Many of the tribes in the vicinity, attracted by curiosity, and the good name given to these new people, came to the settlement, and their chiefs were entertained with a sumptuous feast on board a ship, which lay anchored in the river, the King of Patuxent being seated at the table between the Governor of Maryland, and the Governor of Virginia, who was also present on a friendly mission.

When the storehouse was finished, and it became necessary to unload the ships, the governor, in order to gratify his Indian friends, and make a proper impression on all who were inclined to be enemies, directed it to be done with all due solemnity. The colors were displayed, and the colonists clad in military costume, paraded under arms, to the strains of martial music, the sound of which so delighted the Indians, that they clapped their hands in glee, and struck off in one of their national festive dances.

Volleys of musketry were fired on shore, and answered by discharges of cannon on board the ship, which terrified the Indians so highly, that they fled some distance into the woods; but finding no harm done, they returned greatly impressed with the power of the people who could bring “the big thunder” to their aid. Some of the sachems from a distance, being present at this exhibition, took occasion to warn the Indians of Yaocomoco, (or St. Mary’s, as it was now called,) to keep the league they had made with the English.

The old King of Patuxent in particular showed undecided partiality for the “good men,” as he called them. He remained in town several days, during which he was treated with becoming attention, and when about to leave, made use of this remarkable expression, to the governor: “I love the English so well, that if they should go about to kill me, I would command the people not to avenge my death; for I know they would do no such a thing, except it were through my own fault.”

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At length the ship sailed, leaving the colonists alone with their red brethren. Before he left, however, the captain called the Indians together, and told them he was going, and they must be kind to the people he left behind, and he would tell his great lord how good they were.

The Indians seemed much affected when he told them he was going, and pressed around to take a farewell. They accompanied him to the boat, and brought some of their forest furs, and bows, and ornamented pipes, which they begged him to give “to great white chief, and tell him how much his Indian children love him—thank him very much, for the good people he send to live among Indians,—we love him much, and we love his people. We be all English.”

No community could now be happier than the little colony on the St. Mary’s. It seemed as if the golden age was realized, when all men should dwell together in peace and unity. The English and the Indians lived together in St. Mary’s, each occupying half the town according to a stipulation between them, and the utmost harmony prevailed.

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Once a party of them visiting the governor’s, they were shown a portrait of the proprietor, Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, which they regarded in silence for some time, and then exclaimed, “great father, good father—He love us much—we love him,” and eagerly inquired if he would ever come over and see them.

Frequently they would enter the chapel when the congregation was at worship, and would look with respectful attention on the ceremonies. The worthy pastor of the colonists, early took a great interest in the welfare of the Indians. He delighted to see them in the chapel, and would tell them to come often. A class of native children was soon formed to learn the catechism, and some few of the adults were won over to the catholic faith, and were received into the church by baptism, with becoming ceremony. The good priest was very kind to his Indian charge; he would enter their wigwams and talk to them, and give them little pictures of the saints, and small rosaries, which they stuck up in conspicuous places and highly esteemed.

In this way he won their gratitude and affection, until he came to be regarded by them with dutiful awe and reverence, and received the title of father, the same which the whites gave him. They would say, “big chief great man—Father also great, he be good—talk kind to Indian—Indian sick—he give him good medicine make him well. Father great medicine-man, him big doctor beat Indian medicine-man.”

The natives testified their friendly disposition, by going every day into the woods with their new neighbors, pointing out the best resorts of game, joining in the chase with them, and when the whites were too busy to hunt, they would go alone, and bring home venison and wild turkies in abundance, which they would lay at the feet of the settlers, and go away well satisfied with the cheap requital of knives, beads, and toys.

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Observing that the whites, one day in the week, use fish instead of meat, and were desirous of obtaining a sufficient supply of it, they would go and fish for them, and bring every Friday morning an abundance for the whole settlement.

They likewise showed them the best places in the river for fishing stations, and instructed them in their own methods of catching the various kinds of fish that inhabited the shallow waters.

From these resources, the colonists were so abundantly supplied, and the provisions they had brought with them so extended, that every one enjoyed plenty through the entire winter, and the times of starving and desolation so common in the history of other colonies were unknown in the homes of the peaceful Marylanders.

Altogether, the settlers and the aborigines were so thoroughly mixed in friendship and intercourse, that they seemed as one people in thought and feeling, differing only in the distinctions which nature herself had imposed. The Indians were allowed freely to enter the dwellings of the whites, at any time they chose, the doors never being fastened against them. They would frequently come and eat with them, and sleep under their roofs, and many of the whites would pay similar visits to the lodges at the other end of the town.

Their women also instructed the wives of the colonists in making bread of maize, which soon became a staple article of diet, and the cultivation of corn was extensively entered into. As a certain mark of entire confidence of the Indians, their women and children became in a great measure domesticated in the the English families, and were treated in every respect on a perfect equality with the whites.

During the cold weather, when the men were in a great measure unemployed, the natives instructed them in the various ways of pursuing game, the snares laid for them, and the best method of approaching the unsuspecting prey. One very singular mode of gaining on the deer, in which they initiated the whites, until they became by practice almost as expert as themselves, deserves particular mention: An Indian hunter and a party of whites, go into the woods together, and presently discover a deer in the distance, feeding, and warily watching for danger, the whites, as directed, would hide themselves behind a rock, and the Indian, putting on the skin of a deer, to which the head and horns were left attached, would creep along, in a circuitous direction, towards the deer, mimicking to perfection the gait and appearance of that animal. Cautiously advancing, pretending all the time to be feeding, he would approach the animal, until he had excited its attention, when it would raise its head and look curiously at him, when he was within a few feet of it, he would partially, disengage himself from his covering, and drawing out his bow and arrow, with which he was previously provided, would take deliberate and fatal aim, and speedily bring the noble beast to the ground.

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In the following spring, the natives from a distance assembled to carry on a trade with the strangers, which was conducted to the mutual advantage of both parties. The articles exchanged were deer skins, and the furs of smaller animals, on the one side, and strips of cloth, tools, and various trinkets on the other, and by these means a considerable quantity of peltries was collected.

Shortly after this, to the joy of all parties, a ship arrived with stores and reinforcements from England, and having on board a no less distinguished personage than the noble Lord of Baltimore. He was welcomed with an enthusiastic delight, and the highest honors their little state could bestow.

Nor were the Indians less pleased to hear of his arrival. The representations of the governor, and the amiable conduct of his people, had so favorably impressed them that they were willing to reverence him before they had seen him.

The next day a large party desired an interview with his lordship, and he was pleased to gratify them. They had brought with them many tokens of good feeling and respect, which they deposited before him. Some brought a whole deer, others a package of dried fish, wampum belts, tobacco, and such other things as valuing themselves they thought would be pleasing to him. They presented their offerings with such genuine expressions of gratitude and devoted attachment that the good Calvert was highly moved at his reception by these rude foresters.

One of the chiefs then made a speech to him, in which he expressed on behalf of himself and companions, the great joy they felt on being permitted to behold their great father, they thanked him for the good message he had sent them from the first, declared their willingness to serve him in any manner they were able.

Calvert replied in an appropriate style, of which they expressed their approbation by the wild gesticulations of their own race; he then invited them to a grand entertainment, prepared for them in the garden, at which he presided, with the chiefs on his right hand, and completely won their hearts by his dignified bearing, his sweetness of manners, and the interest he appeared to take in his guests. After the feast was over, they performed for his diversion a number of their national dances. A circle was formed, and the assurances of friendship renewed, the pipe of peace was then produced, and passed around from mouth to mouth, Baltimore, to their delight, indulging in a few whiffs; they then separated and returned to their places.

Nothing could exceed the kindly interest this good nobleman displayed in the welfare of the Indians. Almost as soon as he landed he made himself active in their cause, the first business he engaged in being an inquiry into the treatment of the Indians.

He professed himself highly gratified, by the faithful manner in which his instructions had been carried out by the colonists, and commended them therefor. He immediately renewed and extended, all the rights and privileges originally retained by them, and decreed that all offences committed against them should be punished exactly as aggressions against the whites. He visited them in their wigwams, distributing a large quantity of valuable presents he had brought with him for the purpose.

He endeavored to make himself acquainted with their internal arrangements, and to observe their manners and customs, he went with them into the woods, to witness their mode of hunting and fishing, which they were proud to display before him, and in token of the esteem his conduct had won from them, they bestowed upon him the endearing title of “our own chief.” With the assistance of the good padre, the proprietor perfected many plans for ameliorating the condition of his Indian subjects, for their moral and intellectual culture, a school was at once opened, and thither resorted a number of children of the surrounding tribes.

One day a great chieftain from beyond the mountains, in the most western part of the colony, repaired to St. Mary’s, to make his obeisance to the proprietor, the fame of whose merits and condescension had reached his ears. He heard with wonderment, the many strange stories told him by his friends, who lived among the whites, and approached the palace of the governor with superstitious awe.

By command of Baltimore he was received with as much show and parade as they could assume, and it seemed to have had its intended effect upon him; everything in the place attracted his attention, and called forth expressions of delight. Seeing the fondness he evinced for bright things, the governor presented him with a shining pewter dish, which he suspended around his neck and seemed to regard it as a peculiar mark of honor and distinction.

More settlers continued to arrive, and under the fostering care of Lord Baltimore, aided by the friendship of the Indians, the new colony in a short time became exceedingly flourishing and prosperous.

Not very long after the arrival of Baltimore, the good priest, whom the Indians loved, contracted a fatal disease, while visiting them, and in a short time died, deeply lamented by both his white and red friends. To testify their respect for him, they, attended his funeral in a body, and looked on with a tearful eye, while the remains of their friend were lowered in the grave. When the funeral service was over, one of them stepped forth, and in an appropriate speech, signified to the governor their sincere sorrow and condolence in the loss which both parties had sustained.

They then retired to their lodges, where a solemn fast and lamentation for the dead was held, the squaws beating their breasts and tearing their hair in a frantic manner, while the men sat around in solemn and dignified silence.

Thus happily were the seeds of the future commonwealth of Maryland planted; thus kindly and considerately were the natives treated, and nobly did they repay it, in the peace, good-feeling, and fellowship they long entertained for the settlers.

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