The system of common property, which had at first been established in the colony, not being found to work well, was discontinued; and in the spring of 1624, a little land was apportioned to each settler, which was soon well cultivated; for “now even women and children worked in the field;” corn, therefore, so far from being scarce, formed, in a short time, a profitable article of commerce with the Indians, who bartering their beaver and other skins with the colonists for corn, furnished them with the means of lucrative traffic with the mother-country. The spot to which Divine Providence guided the Pilgrims had, as if in preparation for them, been depopulated by pestilence only a few years before; the land had the advantage of former cultivation, and there were no inhabitants to dispute with them possession. The distant smoke of their fires, and occasional hostile demonstrations, indicated that Indians were in the vicinity; and in order to be prepared for whatever danger might occur, the settlers very soon assumed a military organisation; Miles Standish, one of the bravest of their company, being appointed their captain. The Indians, however, were by no means hostilely disposed. On the contrary, in the month of March, three months only after their settlement, an Indian marched boldly into their little town of Plymouth, and astonished them by exclaiming, “Welcome, Englishmen! Welcome!” He was Samosit, chief of the tribe of Wampanoags, who inhabited the country at about five days’ journey from the coast, and who had learned a few words of English from English fishermen who frequented it; and now in the name of his nation he bade them welcome to the soil which there were no Indian occupants to claim. Samosit was hospitably treated, and again returned accompanied by Squanto the Indian, who, having in 1614 been kidnapped by Hunt, had escaped from Spain to England, where he lived some years. An amicable and easy intercourse was thus established with the Indians. From him they learned that Masassoit, the greatest of the Indian sachems or kings, was at that very time advancing with his brother and a great company to visit them. Preparations were made to receive this great Indian chief, with such respect as the state of the colony permitted. Two knives, a copper chain, with a jewel in it, were presented to him; and to his brother a knife and a jewel, with a pot of strong water, some biscuit and butter. Speeches were mutually made, refreshments partaken of, and finally a league of amity formed, which was inviolably observed for above fifty years. The first marriage in the colony was solemnised on the 12th of May.