Beschreibung:

Title: Travels through the western interior of the United States, from the year 1808 up to the year 1816. With a particular description of a great part of Mexico, or New-Spain. Containing, a particular account of thirteen different tribes of Indians through which the author passed; describing their manners, customs, &c.; with some account of a tribe whose customs are similar to those of the ancient Welch. Interspersed with valuable historical information... Author: Ker, Henry Place: Elizabethtown, NJ Publisher: Printed for the author Date: 1816 Description: 372 pp. 8¼x5¼, modern quarter calf & marbled boards in the style of the period, spine label. First Edition. Travels in the Southwest and into Mexico in the opening decade of the 19th century. Wagner-Camp notes that "Ker relates that October 8, 1808, he departed from Natchez with a black servant, Edom, to ascend the Red River on his way to Mexico. He arrived in Nachitoches on October 20 and a month later visited 'a noted cavern called by the Spaniards Baldesol,' where he found inscriptions dating back as far as 1384. He continued up the Red River, and, by the end of December, had passed through the country of the Uames Indians and then that of the Ilisees whose town, Wascoo, was only ninety miles from the source of the river. Before entering Mexico, the author and his servant journeyed through the country of the Parathees; they crossed the river Gagundo, despite the presence of many alligators; they engaged in a battle on the side of the Yorotees whose religious ceremonies resembled those of the ancient Jews; and they hunted with the Mnadedeus Indians, who possessed strong indications of Welch origin..." Not surprisingly, Howes calls the book "probably mendacious, but certainly readable," and Streeter agrees with Sabin's assessment of its "doubtful authenticity." There were copies with four pages at the end of subscriber's names, not present here, but they are not called for by all of the bibliographers. Field 821; Howes K101; Rader 2163; Sabin 37599; Streeter Texas 1058. Lot Amendments Condition: Some darkening and foxing to contents, else very good. Item number: 204678