PREFACE. 



HUMAN NATURE is so liable to error, and to view facts 

 through the medium of its own idiosyncrasies, that it is 

 only by comparison of the opinions of different men that 

 the world arrives at the truth of any subject. 



There is scarcely a man who has reached the middle 

 age of an active life whose experiences and the opinions 

 formed upon them would not, if written out, be interest- 

 ing and valuable to some portion of mankind. 



To be valuable, however, it is of the utmost impor- 

 tance that the opinions be the result of intelligent obser- 

 vation or deduction of the person giving them. 



In writing these pages I have carefully abstained from 

 consulting ' authorities/ and have treated the different 

 subjects from my own standpoint. Whether valuable or 

 otherwise, the ideas are my own ; and the beliefs ex- 

 pressed are the natural growth of long and varied 

 experiences. 



I have had ample opportunity to study the Indian 

 character and habits in his own native wilds. 



I have ' nothing extenuated nor set down aught in 

 malice.' 



THE AUTHOR. 



