Three Years Among the Indians and Mexicans: By Gen. Thomas James (1846)

This historical record of Thomas James depicts his travels through the gorges of the Rocky Mountains as a trapper and hunter. A journey that began following the return of Lewis and Clark from their voyage. This work describes the relations between the American government and both the Mexican populations and the native tribes at the time. He sought to record the considerable information he received from his travels and first-hand experience to illustrate the Indian and Mexican character, customs and traditions. He detailed battles between tribes, wars between the states, and his narrow escapes from hostile tribes of the regions he traveled. This work includes a colorful mix of cultural understanding in regards to the Indian and Mexican population in America, but also illustrates the adventure of an unexplored world and how the government utilized companies to explore the untouched regions of colonial America, and improve relations and trade with the natives. Not all the native tribes however were so accepting of these white trespassers and bloody feuds arose.