The Indian: On the Battle-Field and in the WigwamFrost, John
History
The Indian: On the Battle-Field and in the Wigwam
Frost, John
Indians of North America
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.
[Illustration: 0322]
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.
[Illustration: 0325]
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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