OCR Text |
Show . IV PRE}'ACE. in the man, and, patiently listening to his story, proceeded, as it fell from his lips, to put it upon paper. This autobiography was thus produced, and was the result of so1ne months' labor in the winter of 1854-55. In prosecuting the task, the author has in no instance departed fro In the story of the narrator, but it was taken down literally as it 'vas fron1 day to day related. Beckwourth kept no journal, and, of course, relied upoR his n1emory alone; consequently dates are often wanting, which it was impossible to give with accuracy when recurring to events transpiring in the course of very many years. Beckwourth is personally known to thousands of people "living on both sides of the n1ountains," and also, from his service under the United States governn1ent, has enjoyed the acquaintance of many officers of the United States Army, who have been stationed in ~'lorida, Mexico, and California. In his long residence with the Indians he adopted their habits, and was in every respect conformed to their ways : the consequence was, from his great courage and superior n1ental endowments, he rose rapidly in their estimation, and finally became their chief~ .A.s an Indian, therefore, he speaks of their customs, and describes their characteristics; and probably, from his autobiography, we have more interesting particulars than were ever before given of the aborigines. Beckwourth, after ten thousand ad ventures, £nail y became involved in the stream that set toward the Pacific, and, almost unconsciously, he established a home in one of the pleasant valleys that border on Feather River. Discovering a pass in the mountains that greatly facilitated emigrants in reaching- California, his • PREFACE . house became a stopping-place for the weary and dispirited among them, and no doubt the associations thus presented have done much to. efface his natural disposition to wander and seek excitement among the l ndian tribes. In person he is of medium height, of strong muscular power, quick of apprehension, and, for a man of his years, very active. ~'rom his neck is suspended a perforated bullet, with a large oblong bead each side of it, secured by a thread of sinew : this amulet is just as he wore it while chief among _the Crows. With the exception of this, he has now assu1ned the usual costu1ne of civilized life, and, in his occasional visits to San ~..,rancisco, vies vvith many prominent residents in the dress and manners of the refined gentleman. It is unnecessary to speak of the natural superiority of his mind: his autobiography every where displays it. His sagacity in determining vvhat would please the Indians has never been surpassed; for on the most trying occasions, where hundreds of others would have fallen victin1s to circumstances, he escaped. His courage is of the highest order, and probably no man ever lived who has met with more personal adventure involving danger to life, though in this respect he is not an exception to all mountaineers and hunte~·s who early engaged in the fur trade and faced the perils of an unknown wilderness. |