Through a life of unusual activity and duration,
which, reflecting honor and renown upon your name, has given you a
distinguished position among your countrymen, you have never been
known to forget a duty to your fellow man.

For these considerations, the dedication of this volume to you cannot
but appear appropriate. That he may continue to merit a place in your
confidence and esteem is the earnest desire of

THE AUTHOR.

* * * * *

FERNANDEZ DE TAOS, NEW MEXICO.

SIR:

We, the undersigned citizens of the Territory of New Mexico, have been
acquainted with Mr. CHRISTOPHER CARSON for a number of years, indeed
almost from the time of his first arrival in the country. We have been
his companions both in the mountains and as a private citizen. We are
also acquainted with the fact that for the past few months, during his
leisure hours, he has been engaged dictating his life. This is, to
our certain knowledge, the only authentic biography of himself and his
travels that has ever been written. We heartily recommend THIS BOOK
to the reading community for perusal, as it presents a life out of the
usual routine of business, and is checkered with adventures which
have tried this bold and daring man. We are cognizant of most of the
details of the book, and vouch for their accuracy.

Very respectfully,

CERAN ST. VRAIN, LIEUT. COL. N.M. VOLUNTEERS.

CHARLES BEAUBIEN, LATE CIRCUIT JUDGE.

THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

The pages here presented to the public form a book of facts. They
unfold for the student, as does no other work yet extant, the great
interior wilderness of the territories belonging to the United States.
The scenic views, though plainly colored and wrought by the hand of
an unpretending artist, inasmuch as they portray a part of the North
American continent which is unsurpassed by any other country on the
face of the earth, will not fail to interest the American public. In
addition to this, the reader is introduced to an intimate acquaintance
with the Indian races of the countries which He east and west of the
Rocky Mountains. The savage warrior and hunter is presented, stripped
of all the decorations with which writers of fiction have dressed
him. He is seen in his ferocity and gentleness, in his rascality and
nobility, in his boyhood, manhood, and old age, and in his wisdom and
ignorance. The attentive reader will learn of his approximations to
truth, his bundle o