The Bargain

Now as to what took place during the evening and on the following morning, I cannot say of my own knowledge; but we who remained on the water were told that Governor Calvert had offered to buy from these savages, in order that we might build upon it our first town, the point of land on the right hand side of the river, which was to be called Augusta Carolina.

It was left to Captain Fleet to arrange the terms of this bargain, and from out our store of axes, hose, knives, and clothes, such as would be used in trading with the Indians, he gave to the chief of Yaocomico and his men as much as satisfied them to part with their land.

So well pleased were the brown-skinned people with this bargain, that they of their own will agreed to give up the houses, and the corn which was growing, to us, promising at the same time that at the end of the harvest they would move away entirely, leaving us in undisputed possession; but in the meanwhile we should live friendly and peaceably together.

About thirty square miles of land were thus bought, and, as I have said, given the name of Augusta Carolina. As to the town itself, Father White insisted it should be known as St. Mary's, in honor of the mother of Jesus Christ.

As soon as our people on shipboard heard of the trade that had been made between Governor Calvert and the Indian chief, the big guns of the vessels were discharged, and the men let off their muskets in token that we had at last taken possession of our Province of Maryland.

Although as yet nothing had been done, save in the way of talk, it seemed to me as if we had really settled down to our own, and I had a certain feeling of content that we were to live in so fair a country, of which no less than fifty acres would be my very own.