Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. In compliance with the oft-repeated request of a number of literary friends I present this volume to the public. In doing so there is another motive that has influenced me, and I may be pardoned, if here, at the commencement of my task, I briefly record it.<br><br>In thus giving a sketch of my nation’s history, describing its home, its country and its peculiarities and in narrating its traditionary legends I may awaken in the American heart a deeper feeling for the race of redmen and induce the pale-face to use greater effort to effect an improvement in their social and political relations.<br><br>You must know that my advantages have not been very great for the attainment of knowledge; that, in common with my forest brethren I have, as the saying is, been brought up in the woods.