It is believed that the scene of this tale, and most of the informationnecessary to understand its allusions, are rendered sufficiently obvious to thereader in the text itself, or in the accompanying notes. Still there is so muchobscurity 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, greaterantithesis of character, than the native warrior of North America. In war, heis daring, boastful, cunning, ruthless, self-denying, and self-devoted; inpeace, just, generous, hospitable, revengeful, superstitious, modest, andcommonly chaste. These are qualities, it is true, which do not distinguish allalike; but they are so far the predominating traits of these remarkable peopleas to b