PREFACE. 



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THREE centuries have passed away 

 gince America was first discovered by Colum- 

 bus. From that time until now, the affairs of 

 America have engaged the attention of historians 

 and philosophers. The natural productions of 

 this continent, have been one object of general 

 inquiry. Among the Spanish writers, there are 

 some good essays on the natural history of the 

 southern parts of America. In Canada, some of 

 the physicians and Jesuits were attentive to the 

 natural productions of that part of the continent i 

 and have left some valuable pieces on the natural 

 history of New France. This kind of knowledge 

 ^vas not much attended to, by the first settlers of 

 the British colonics ; and we" have but few of 

 their ancient writings, in which it was contem- 

 plated at all. Obliged to depend upon transient 

 and partial accounts, the best WTiter upon natural 

 history, M. de Buffon, has flillen into many mis- 

 takes respecting the natural productions of A- 

 merica, which, more accurate observations would 

 Jiave corrected. The subject instead of being 

 fully explored, i.s yet a treasure but little ex- 

 amined. 



The Man of America was an object still nnore 

 curious and important. But the age in which 

 the first discoveries and settlements were made, 

 was not enough enlighLcned, to afford either ac- 

 curate or impartial observations, on the manners, 

 customs, language, abilities, or state of society, 

 e^niong the Indians. Prejudiced by their sordid 



