 the death of the pious, the venerable, and the experienced
Heckewelder, a fund of information of this nature has been extinguished, which,
it is feared, can never again be collected in one individual. He laboured long
and ardently in their behalf, and not less to vindicate their fame, than to
improve their moral condition.
    With this brief introduction to his subject, then, the author commits his
book to the reader. As, however, candour, if not justice, requires such a
declaration at his hands, he will advise all young ladies, whose ideas are
usually limited by the four walls of a comfortable drawing room; all single
gentlemen, of a certain age, who are under the influence of the winds; and all
clergymen, if they have the volumes in hand, with intent to read them, to
abandon the design. He gives this advice to such young ladies, because, after
they have read the book, they will surely pronounce it shocking; to the
bachelors, as it might disturb their sleep; and to the reverend clergy, because
they might be better employed.
 

                                  Introduction

It is believed that the scene of this tale, and most of the information
necessary to understand its allusions, are rendered sufficiently obvious to the
reader, in the text itself, or in the accompanying notes. Still there is so much
obscurity in the Indian traditions, and so much confusion in the Indian names,
as to render some explanation useful.
    Few men exhibit greater diversity, or, if we may so express it, greater
antithesis of character, than the native warrior of North America. In war, he is
daring, boastful, cunning, ruthless, self-denying, and self-devoted; in peace,
just, generous, hospitable, revengeful, superstitious, modest, and commonly
chaste. These are qualities, it is true, which do not distinguish all alike; but
they are so far the predominating traits of these remarkable people, as to be
characteristic.
    It is generally believed that the Aborigines of the American continent have
an Asiatic origin. There are many physical as well as moral facts which
corroborate this opinion, and some few that would seem to weigh against it.
    The colour of the Indian, the writer believes, is peculiar to himself; and
while his cheek-bones have a very striking indication of a Tartar origin, his
eyes have not. Climate may have had great influence on the former, but it is
difficult to see how it can have produced the substantial difference which
exists in the latter. The imagery of the Indian, both in his poetry
