My Experiences with Indians by James, John

Austin; (1925): Gammel's Book Shop. First Edition. Octavo. 147 pages. While his early dealing with various Indian tribes is fascinating, it is time among the Chochtaws in the period beginning in the 1880's that is the heart of his firsthand account. He began teaching at an Indian school named "Stock Bridge Academy". there with 63 children aged 8 to 21, He had to show how the parts of speech worked in English and he taught English songs as well as those of the Sunday School variety such as "On Jordan's Stormy Banks". In the process he acquired a Chochtaw dictionary and Bible as he began to read, write and speak the language. While the missionaries attempted to get them to go through marriage ceremonies, he writes that many who went through the older procedures of the courtship putting a special weed between the breasts of the girl he desired to mate often led to better unions. A marvelous look at an Indian tribe and its customs before they began to disappear at the end of the 19th century. Previous owner's name, light spotting to title page. Bound in black cloth lettered in gilt, spine plain. A very good copy.