To President Sparks of Harvard University. General Whiting, U. S. A., Brantz Mayer, Esq., of Baltimore, Francis J. Fisher, Esq., of Philadelphia, and Rev. George E. Ellis, of Charlestown, I beg to return a warm acknowledgment for counsel and assistance. Mr. Benjamin Perley Poore and Mr. Henry Stevens procured copies of valuable documents from the archives of Paris and London. Henry R. Schoolcraft, Esq., Dr. Elwyn, of Philadelphia, Dr. O'Callaghan, of Albany, George H. Moore, Esq., of New York, Lyman C. Draper, Esq., of Philadelphia, Judge Law, of Vincennes, and many others, have kindly contributed materials to the work. Nor can I withhold an expression of thanks to the aid so freely rendered in the dull task of proofreading and correction. The crude and promiscuous mass of materials presented an aspect by no means inviting. The field of the history was uncultured and unreclaimed, and the labor that awaited me was like that of the border settler, who, before he builds his rugged dwelling, must fell the forest-trees, burn the undergrowth, clear the ground, and hew the fallen trunks to due proportion. Several obstacles have retarded the progress of the work. Of these, one of the most consid erable was the condition of my sight. For about three years, the light of day was insupportable, and every attempt at reading or writing completely debarred. Under these circumstances, the task of sifting the materials and composing the work was begun and finished. The papers were repeatedly read aloud by an amanuensis, copious notes and extracts were made, and the narrative written down from my dictation. This process, though extremely slow and laborious, was not without its advantages; and I am well convinced that the authorities have been even more minutely examined, more scrupulously collated, and more thoroughly digested, than they would have been under ordinary circumstances. In order to escape the tedious circumlocution which, from the nature of the subject, could not otherwise have been avoided, the name English is applied, throughout the volume, to the British American colonists, as well as to the people of the mother country. The necessity is somewhat to be regretted, since, even at an early period, clear distinctions were visible between the offshoot and the parent stock. BOSTON, August 1, 1851. CONTENTS. General Characteristics. — Tribal Divisions. Mode of Govern- ment. — Social · Harmony. - The Totem. - Classification of Tribes. The Iroquois : their Position and Character; their Political Organization; Traditions of their Confederacy; their Myths and Legends; their Eloquence and Sagacity; Arts; Agriculture; their Dwellings, Villages, and Forts; their Win- ter Life; the War Path; Festivals and Pastimes. - Pride of the Iroquois. The Hurons or Wyandots: their Customs and Character; their Dispersion. The Neutral Nation; its Fate. -The Eries and Andastes. - Triumphs of the Confederacy. -The Adoption of Prisoners. - The Tuscaroras. - Superior- ity of the Iroquois Race. The Algonquins. — The Lenni Lenape; their changing Fortunes. The Shawanoes.- The Miamis and the Illinois. - The Ojibwas, Pottawattamies, and Ottawas. - The Sacs and Foxes. - The Menominies and Knisteneaux. Customs of the Northern Algonquins; their Summer and Winter Life. Legends of the Algonquins.- Religious Faith of the Indians. The Indian Character: its Inconsistencies; its Ruling Passions; Pride; Hero-worship; FRANCE AND ENGLAND IN AMERICA. Contrast of French and English Colonies. - Feudalism in Canada. - - - England. French Life in Canada. - Military Strength of - CHAPTER III. THE FRENCH, THE ENGLISH, AND THE INDIANS. - - - -- - - Success of the - Champlain defeats the Iroquois. - The Iroquois Wars. Misery - - - CHAPTER IV. 1700-1755. COLLISION OF THE RIVAL COLONIES. The Puritan and the Canadian. - Fort Frederic. - Acadia. - Albany. French and English Diplomacy. - Braddock and - 69 |