The strictly moral inducements which have operated on the Author's mind, must be too obvious to require dissertation. We owe, and our Fathers owed, too much to the Indians,--too much from man to man,--too much from race to race,--to deny them the poor restitution of historical justice at least, however the issue may have been or may be with themselves. Nor need it be suggested, that selfishness alone might dictate the policy of a collection such as the Author has endeavored to make this, were it only for the collateral light which it constantly throws on the history and biography of our own nation. Nothing of the same character is before the public. What may be called an Indian Biographical Dictionary has indeed recently appeared, and to that the Author has gladly referred in the course of his researches; but the extreme difficulty of doing justice to any individuals of the race, and at the same time to _all,_ may be inferred from the fact that the writer alluded to has noticed such men as Uncas in some six or eight lines, while he has wholly omitted characters so important as Buckongahelas, White-eyes, Pipe, and Occonoetota. On these, and on all their more eminent countrymen, the Author has intended to bestow the notice they deserve, by passing over the vast multitude distinguished only by detached anecdote, or described only in general terms. In fine, conscious of many imperfections, but also conscious of a strenuous exertion to render them as few and small as might be, the Author submits the Biography to the public, and especially to the candor of those whose own labors, if not the results of them, have shown them the essential fallibility of every composition like this. He will have reason to be satisfied if it do good, as he will assuredly be gratified if it give pleasure. Boston, Sept. 10, 1832. CONTENTS CHAP. I.--The Indian tribes of Virginia at the date of the Jamestown settlement; their names, numbers and power--The Powhatan confederacy--The Indian Village of that name--Powhatan--The circumstances of the first interview between him and the English--Opechancanough, his brother--Opitchipan--Reception of Captain Smith by Powhatan--Interposition of Pocahontas in his favor--Second visit of the colonists--Third visit, and coronation--Entertainment of Smith by Pocahontas--Contest of ingenuity between Powhatan and Smith; and between the latter and Opechancanough--Smith saved again by Pocahontas--Political manoeuvres of Powhatan and Opechancanough--Smith's return to Jamestown. page 9