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THE Province of Mary-Land is situated between the degrees of 37 and 50 min. or thereabouts,* 1.1 and 40 deg. of Northern Latit. It is bounded on the North with Pennsylvania, New-England, and New-York, formerly part of New-England; on the East, the Atlantick Ocean, and Delaware Bay; on the South,
by Virginia; from whence it is parted by the Ri∣ver Patowmeck, whose Southern Banks divide the Province from Virginia.
The Bay of Chesopeack, giving entrance to Ships, both into this Countrey and Virginia, pas∣sing through the heart of this Province, being found near 200 miles in the Land, into which falls several considerable River;* 1.2 as, Patowmeck, Patuxent, Ann-A∣rundel, (alias Severn) and Sasque∣sahanough, lying on the West-side of the Bay; and to the East of the said Bay, those of the Choptanke, Nantecoke, Pocomocke, and several other Rivers and Rivulets, to the great improvement of the Soyl, and Beauty of the Province.
The Climate* 1.3 of late is very a∣greeable to the English Constitu∣tion, especially since the felling of the Woods, and the People accustoming them∣selves to English Diet, is very healthful and agree∣able to the constitution of the English, few now dying at their first coming, of the Country Dis∣ease or seasoning; neither is the Heat extream in Summer, being much qualified by the cool and gentle Briezes of winds from the Sea, and refresh∣ing Showers of Rain, and the Cold in Winter, be∣ing of so little durance, that the Inhabitants can∣not be said to suffer by either.
The Countrey is generally plain and even, yet rising in some places into small and pleasant Hills, which heighten the Beauty of the adjacent Val∣lies.
The Soyl is rich and fertil, naturally producing all such Commodities as are particularly set down to its neighbouring Colony, Virginia; as, all sorts of Beasts and Fowl, both tame and wild;
Fish, Fruits, Plants, Roots, Herbs, Gums, Trees, Balsoms, &c. as likewise all Commodities produ∣ced by Industry, are here found in as great plenty and perfection. But the chief Trade of Mary-Land depends upon Tobacco, which is esteemed better for a foreign Market than that of Virginia, finds greater vent abroad; which Trade is not inconsiderable, since a hundred Sail of Ships have in one year traded thither from England, and the neighbouring English Plantations. There is a com∣petent stock of ready Money in this Province, both of English and Foreign, and his Lordships own Coin; yet their chief way of Commerce is by way of Barter or Exchange of Commodi∣ties.
The Natives,* 1.4 as to their Com∣plexion, Stature, Customs, Dis∣positions, Laws, Religion, Appa∣rel, Diet, Houses, &c. are much the same with those of Virginia, already treated of, being like∣wise many different Tribes or sorts of People, and each governed by their particular King.
There are many strange Rites and Ceremonies used by the Na∣tive Indians;* 1.5 they believe there are several Gods, which they call Mantaac, but of different sorts and degrees; yet there is but one absolute God from all eternity, who, when he made the World, created other Gods, to be as a Means and Instrument used in the Creation, and that the Sun, Moon and Stars are petty Gods; out of the Waters they affirm all the variety of Crea∣tures were made; for Mankind, that Woman was made first, who, by the assistance of one of the Gods, conceived and brought forth Children, but know not how long it was since this was done,
having no Arithmetick nor Records, but only Tradition from Father to Son; they make the I∣mages of their Gods in the shape of Men, placing one at least in their Houses or Temple, where they worship, sing, pray and make Offerings.
They believe, that after this Life, the Soul shall be disposed of according to its Works here, either to the habitation of the Gods, to enjoy perpetual happiness, or to a great Pit or Hole in the furthest part of their Countrey toward Sun∣set (which they count the furthermost part of the World) there to burn continually; which place they call Popogusso; and relate, that one that was buried, was the next day seen to move upon his Grave; whereupon his Body was taken up again, who, when he was revived, declared, that his Soul was near entring into Popogusso, had not one of the Gods saved him, and suffered him to return, and warn his Friends to avoid that terrible place: another being taken up, related, that his Soul was alive while his Body was in the Grave, and had been travelling in a long broad way, on both sides whereof, grew delicate Trees, bearing excellent Fruits, and at length arrived at most curious houses, where he met his Father, that was dead before. who charged him to go back, and shew his Friends what good they were to do to enjoy the pleasures of this Place, and then to return to him again: Whatever Tricks or Subtilty the Priests use, the Vulgar are hereby very respectful to their Govern∣ors, and careful of their actions, though in crimi∣nal Causes they inflict punishments according to the quality of the Offence; they are great Negro∣mancers, and account our Fire-works, Guns and Writing to be the works of God rather than Men. When one of their Kings was sick, he sent to the
English to pray for him: Some of them imagine that we are not mortal men, nor born of Women, but say we are an old Generation revived, and believe that there are more of us yet to come to kill their Nation, and take their places, who are at present invisible in the Air without Bo∣dies, and that at their intercession they cause those of their Nation to die who wrong the English.
Their Idol they place in the innermost Room of the House, of whom they relate incredible Stories, they carry it with them to the Wars, and ask counsel thereof, as the Romans did of their Oracles; they sing Songs as they march towards Battel, in∣stead of Drums and Trumpets; their Wars are exceeding bloody, and have wasted the people ve∣ry much. Once a year they hold a great Festival, meeting together out of several Villages, each ha∣ving a certain Mark or Character on his Back, whereby it may be discerned whose Subject he is; the place where they meet is spacious, and round about are Posts carved on the top like a Nuns Head; in the midst are three of the fairest Virgins lovingly embracing and clasping each other; about this living Image and artificial Circle they dance in their savage manner. Their chief Idol, called Ki∣wasa, in made of wood four foot high, the Face resembling the Inhabitants of Florida, painted with flesh-colour, the Breast white, the other parts black, the Legs only sported with white, with Chains and Strings of Beads about his neck. This Idol is the Keeper of the dead Bodies of their Kings, which are advanced on Scaffolds nine or ten foot high, this Kiwasa or Guardian being placed near them, and underneath liveth a Priest, who there mumbles his Devotions night and day.
This Province of Mary-Land, His Majesty King Charles the First, in Anno 1632. granted by a Pa∣tent to the Right Honourable Caecilius Calvert, Lord Baltemore, and to his Heirs and Assigns, and by that Patent created him and them the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of the same (sa∣ving the Allegiance and Sovereign Dominion due to His Majesty, his Heirs and Successors;) thereby likewise granting to them all Royal Jurisdictions both military and Civil; as, Power of enacting Laws, martial Laws, making of Warand Peace, Par∣doning Offences, conferring of Honours, coyning of Money, &c. and in acknowledgment thereof, yielding and paying yearly to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, two Indi••n Arrows at Windsor-Castle in the County of Berks, on Easter-Tuesday, toge∣ther with the fifth part of all the Gold and Silver-Oar that shall be found there.
The Lord Baltemore hath his Residence at Mat∣tapany, about eight miles distance from St. Maries, where he hath a pleasant Seat, though the gene∣ral Assemblies and Provincial Courts are kept at St. Maries; and for the better inviting of People to settle here, his Lordship by the Advice of the General Assembly of that Province, hath long since established a Model of good and wholsom Laws, for the ease and benefit of the Inhabitants, with toleration of Religion to all sorts that profess the Faith of Christ, which hath been a principal mo∣tive to many to settle under that Government, rather than in another, where Liberty of Consci∣ence was denied them.
This Province, where it is peo∣pled with English,* 1.6 is divided into ten Counties, to wit, five Eastwards of Chesopeak-Bay, as, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, So∣merset,
and Talbot; and five Westwards of the said Bay; as, Anne-Arundel, Baltemore, Calvert, Charles, and St. Maries. Here are likewise certain Magistrates appointed by his Lordship in each County, as, Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, &c.
The Inhabitants (being in number about 16000) have begun the building of several Towns, which in few years 'tis hoped may come to some perfe∣ction; as, Calverton, Herrington, and Harvey-Town, all commodiously seated for the benefit of Trade, and conveniency of Shipping; but the principal Town is St. Maries, seated on St. Georges River, being beautified with divers well-built Houses, and is the chief Place, or Scale of Trade for the Province.
Situation.
Its Rivers
The Climate.
The Natives.
Their Religion.
Its Counties.