Over 175 years ago George Catlin, American painter, writer and explorer, realized that the white settlers would eventually destroy the native cultures of North America. Devoting his life to preserving the Indian heritage, he traveled throughout the West sketching and painting hundreds of Indian portraits, village scenes, religious rituals and games. Eager to preserve the vanishing tribes and customs of the Native Americans through his art, his encounters with these fascinating people resulted in the book, The North American Indians, a collection of his letters with over 400 illustrations. Catlin toured Europe for eight years presenting his famous collection of portraits and sketches. As a result of this tour, Catlin published ADVENTURES OF THE OJIBBEWAY AND IOWAY INDIANS concentrating on these two intriguing tribes in this two-volume set.