PREFACE

TO THE LONDON EDITION.

THE Author of the following publication feels it necessary to offer some observations on the circumstances of its introduction to the English reader, notwithstanding the success which his humble endeavors have met with in the United States gives him a confidence in presuming upon their attention. He may first remark, that he had the honor of being employed by the Indian department in that country, expressly for the purpose of taking the portraits of the most prominent and distinguished Chiefs, in their various meetings for treaties, and was present at nearly all the Council Fires during a period of fifteen years. These portraits were done at the time and place specified in their respective order, copies from the originals being deposited in the War Office, at Washington. As regards the merits of their general character, and the fidelity of the costume, he can, with confidence, claim the attention of the public, from the following letter with which he was favored from Hon. Lewis Cass, now Minister from the United States Government to the French Court, and which he presumes to adduce as a satisfactory confirmation.

WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 10th, 1835.

DEAR SIR, -It affords me great pleasure, in conformity with your request, to express my opinion of the fidelity of the execution of the Indian portraits which you have transmitted to me in your Aboriginal Portfolio. Your opportunities were very favorable for collecting the necessary materials for the execution of this work. You accompanied

me to various Indian treaties, where large bodies of the Indians were assembled, and you were industriously engaged in painting their portraits. For some years, also, you pursued the same plan, at Detroit, at a period when that place was a resort for was a resort for many of the tribes.

So far as I can speak from recollection, I think the countenances and costumes of the Indians represented in these engravings are faithfully preserved. Most, and probably nearly all of them were known to me; and though, of course, the impression of the features of many of them has passed from my memory, yet there are some whom I distinctly recollect, and whose appearance I instantly recognized in these sketches.

Some years of your life were faithfully devoted to this task, and I hope the favorable notice of the public will enable you to reap a just reward for your exertion and expenses.

I am, dear Sir, with much regard,

J. O. Lewis, Esq., Philadelphia.

Your obedient Servant,

LEWIS CASS.

A stranger in the land where he now offers for republication the result of his labors, and entirely unacquainted with the modes which are necessary to introduce a work of foreign growth to the patronage of the British public, the Author humbly trusts that his fervent and honest endeavors to rescue from oblivion the features of some of the Aboriginals of a large portion of the globe, whose existence even will soon be mere matter of history, may not appear obtrusive, nor prove uninteresting. He trusts that he does not vainly appeal for security from the effects of criticism, for any signs of incompleteness which may appear either in the delineation or biographical detail, by adverting to the great and constantly-recurring disadvantages to which an artist is necessarily subject whilst travelling through a wilderness far removed from the abodes of civilization, and in "pencilling by the way" with the rude materials he may be enabled to pick up in the course of his progress. When it is recollected, also, that the time for holding Indian treaties is generally very limited, and that the deep-felt anxiety of the artist to possess a large collection must be no small impediment in the way of his bestowing any considerable share of his time and attention on any one production, he confidently believes, that as

they are issued in their original state, whatever imperfections may be discoverable will be ascribed to the proper and almost necessary cause.

The historical and biographical notices appended to the plates are such as were given by the interpreters of the various tribes, without any exaggeration or embellishment. From the circumstances before stated, the opportunities for intercourse were of a very limited nature, and nothing, therefore, has been attempted, further than to present a faint and true outline of the various characters represented, which must rather be considered as a key to the plates, than a detailed biographical account. Without such an addition, the portraits of Indian character could scarcely be considered complete; and limited as are many of the materials for biographical notice, they must necessarily enhance those impressions derived from the distinguished and marked interest which their physiognomy presents. There will also be incidentally introduced, drawings of the congregations assembled at some of the most celebrated Indian treaties; delineations of their different war dances; as well as various others, illustrative of Aboriginal life and manners.

J. O. LEWIS.

London, February, 1838.