THOMAS] xEw York's policy toward the ixdians 575 



the Nauticoke Indians and their descendants shall have, hold, occupy, 

 possess, and enjoy a free, peaceable, and uninterrupted possession of 

 all that tract or parcel of land lying between the northwest fork of 

 Nanticoke river and Chicucone creek, for and during such space of time 

 as they or any of them shall think fit to use, and shall not wholly and 

 totally desert and quit claim to the same, according as the same is 

 butted and bounded.'' To the Choptank Indians, with the same pro- 

 visions, was granted "that tract of land lying in Dorchester county, 

 on Choptank river, according to the metes and bounds thereof" as 

 surveyed by the commissioners. 



The act of June 22, 1768, authorized the payment of $6605 to the 

 Nanticokes for "three certain tracts of land and also 3,000 acres lying 

 on Broad creek, all in the county of Summerset," which the said Indians 

 agreed to accept as full payment therefor. 



By section 4 of the act of March 12, 1780, authority was given to the 

 governor to purchase the Indian lauds in Dorchester county. As this 

 was an important act, and specifies somewhat particularly the steps to 

 be adopted in dealing with the Indians in this instance, a copy of the 

 section is given here. 



Sec. i. And be it enacted, That the tjovemor aud the council be authorized and 

 requested to appoint some tit and proper person to treat with the Indians entitled, 

 under any act of assembly, to any lands in Dorchester County, for the purchasing 

 the said lands, or any part thereof, on behalf of this state, and to agree with them 

 on the terms of said purchase for a certain annual sum to he paid to the said Indians 

 as long as any of them shall remain, and to take a deed to the state expressing the 

 conditions, which said deed shall bo acknowledged hefore the general court of the 

 eastern shore, or the court of Dorchester county, in open court, at the election of 

 the said Indians ; and if such purchase be made, the person so appointed shall sell the 

 same, at auction, for current money, in such lots or parcels as will probably bring 

 the best price, on a credit of one third of the purchase money annually until the 

 whole IS paid, with interest annually on the several sums, or the governor and the 

 council may, in their discretion, direct a sale of the said lands for state or conti- 

 nental government securities, and eight weeks notice shall be given previous to the 

 sale in the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia aud New York papers.' 



A similar act, providing for the purchase of a part of the lauds of 

 the Chojitauk Indians and for limiting their reservation, was passed 

 January 18, 1799. The reservation was limited to one hundred acres 

 to be laid oft' so as to include their settlements. 



NEW YORK 



The discussion of the policy of New York while a colony must of 

 necessity begin with the Dutch settlement at the mouth of the Hud- 

 son known as Xew Netherland. The exact date of the first white set- 

 tlement of the area now embraced by New York city does not appear 

 to be known. It is stated by the " Report of the Board of Accounts on 

 New Netherlaud," made in 1G44, that "In the years 1622 aud 1623, the 

 West India Company took possession, by virtue of their charter, of the 

 said country, and conveyed thither, in their ship, the New Netherland, 



' William Kiliy, Laws of Maryland (unpagt'd). 



