This meeting, held in the cabin of the Mayflower, is generally accepted as the first New England town meeting, although on the 27th of February following, a meeting, later referred to, was held in the common house for the purpose of establishing a military guard at which Myles Standish was chosen captain. On April 2nd another meeting was held on “common business” and at which laws “convenient for the common state” were passed. From these first meetings evolved our present form of town meeting, held, and elections made, according to the will of the majority. Search for Permanent Settlement On November 25th, a party of sixteen men under the leadership of Captain Standish set out on foot looking for a place for permanent settlement “having such instructions as was thought meet.” They had proceeded but a short distance when they met a small party of Indians who fled upon approach. They were followed for some miles, when, darkness coming on, they made camp for the night. [Sidenote: Nov. 26 to 28] The following day further exploration was made. Some Indian corn was discovered, also fresh water from which they drank being sorely in need thereof “this being the first New England water drunk of.” Returning from the vicinity of Truro and the Pamet River to which their exploration had taken them, they saw deer and “great flocks of wild geese and ducks, but they were fearful of us.”[6] Also signs of Indian habitation and “heaps of sand newly padled with their hands, which they, digging up, found in them divers fair Indian baskets filled with corn, and some in ears, fair and good, of divers colors, which seemed to them a goodly sight (having never seen any such before). So their time limited to them being expired, they returned to the ship, lest they should be in fear of their safety; and took with them part of the corn ... of which on their return they were marvellously glad....” The days immediately following were occupied in completing repairs to the shallop, in cutting wood and getting tools in readiness, in anticipation of a permanent landing. With this in view a party of thirty set forth on Dec. 7, “for the better discovery of this place.” They found signs of Indian habitation also “more of their corn and of their beans of various colors. The corn and beans they brought away proposing to give them good satisfaction when they should meet with any of them (as about 6 months afterward they did, to their good content).” “And here it is to be noted a special Providence of God, and a great mercy to this poor people that here they got seed to plant them corn the next year or else they might have starved, for they had none, nor any likelihood to get any until the season had been past (as the sequel did manifest).” Not finding the desired harborage or place for permanent settlement this party returned to the Mayflower.