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.