PREFACE 



TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



We live in a day when the most distant 

 parts of the earth are opening as the sphere 

 of Missionary labours. The state of the 

 heathen world is becoming better known, and 

 the sympathy of British Christians has been 

 awakened, in zealous endeavours to evangelize 

 and soothe its sorrows. In these encouraging 

 signs of the times, the Author is induced to 

 give the following pages to the public, from 

 having traversed some of the dreary wilds 

 of North America, and felt deeply interested 

 in the religious instruction and amelioration 

 of the condition of the natives. They are 

 wandering, in unnumbered tribes, through 

 vast wildernesses, where generation after gene- 



