Iv INTRODUCTION 



ing, if necessary, to furnish any assistance required in 

 furtherance of the measure. 



This led to a personal acquaintance with the Author, 

 which has ripened into strong feelings of regard and 

 attachment for himself, and for many of his numerous 

 descendants, now numbering over one hundred and twenty. 

 More recent visits have resulted in the publication of the 

 narrative — the manuscript having been submitted to me 

 for such emendations and alterations as were deemed 

 necessary ; I promising, at the same time, to write an In- 

 troduction for the work. 



In fulfilling this promise, it may be remarked, that 

 although many of the incidents here given may, to the 

 minds of some, savor of romance, yet no doubt whatever 

 is entertained of their entire truthfulness and reliability. 

 The character of the Author has passed unscathed through 

 a long life ; and, though he is now verging on fourscore 

 years, it stands as high, to say the least, as that of any 

 other individual, for integrity, strong intellect, generous 

 feelings, and heroic courage, whether in combatting with 

 savage beasts of prey, or in struggling against the stream 

 of poverty and adversity with which he had to contend, 

 not only in early life, but also for a long series of years. 



He is not the man to indulge in fiction, in any manner, 

 or on any occasion. Though uneducated — having had 

 less than six months' tuition, and that when quite a boy — 

 he has filled important and responsible positions in his own 

 county, not only with credit to himself, but with advantage 

 to the public. 



There are a few incidents narrated, and expresaiona 



