Traits of American Indian Life and Character

Among the first individuals to penetrate the vast wilderness of the American Far West were rugged trappers and traders. Many, in their dealings with Native Americans, witnessed a broad spectrum of tribal life. Peter Skeene Ogden (1794-1854), explorer, author, and Hudson’s Bay Company employee, was one such observer — astute, immensely literate for his time, and knowledgeable in a number of regional Indian languages. This fascinating volume, attributed to Ogden, provides an illuminating and sometimes startling account of day-to-day life among the original inhabitants of the Oregon Territory. Identifying himself only as “A Fur Trader,” Ogden presents intimate sketches of tribal life collected over two decades of encounters with Indians of the Northwest. More than just brief glimpses into warlike habits, this book describes in graphic and often touching prose a wealth of customs, traditions, beliefs, rituals, and daily activities of Indian life — even including scenes of domestic tragedy. Originally published in 1853, this rare document offers authentic insight into the Indian character and intratribal life during a period in which only few hardened adventurers had gained access to the isolated areas of the Far West. A splendid tribute to those who did, Ogden’s painstakingly detailed yet immensely readable firsthand account will be welcomed by anthropologists, students of Native American society and life, and general readers alike.