Where the City would be Built

Then it was that we could see clearly this island which had been chosen in the night as our first stopping place, and I asked John if it was here we were to build a city; but he was of the mind that much would be done before Governor Calvert decided such an important matter.

The land belonging to Lord Baltimore was, most likely, to be spied out in order that we might learn where it would be to our best advantage to settle, and again that the temper of the savages might be known, for surely what we had seen the night previous was proof, at least to my mind, that they would oppose our coming.

Again, as I looked, I could understand that this island of St. Clements, so lately named, would be all too small for a town of any size, and more certain was I on hearing one of the gentlemen say it did not contain more than an hundred acres in all its surface.

It was a beautiful place, however, and in all England I question if there could be found one so fair, covered as it was with tall trees, such as wild walnuts, acorns, and black walnuts, together with cedar and sassafras, among which were vines and plants in great abundance.

The first work of the day was to take from out the hold where it had been stowed, lest the heavy waves of the ocean should dash it to pieces, the shallop, and in her were sent to the island three of the serving maids that they might begin their labors in this new province of ours by washing the soiled linen.

It was like to have been a disaster instead of a task, for the water all around was so shallow that even a small boat could not come up to the firm land; therefore those who were on board must perforce wade a certain distance, and when one of the men leaped over the side to lead the way, he was so incautious as to overset the shallop, dropping the maids into the water together with all the linen, which last was lost to us for all time.

Fortunately, the maids were saved; but some of our people mourned even as if they had been drowned, for to us in a new country, where linen could not be had for the buying, to lose so many garments was a serious mishap.