BOOK ABOUT AMERICA. ! — .... CONCOitD, N. H.: RUFUS MERRILL. is * ■? /{ f ,^i BOOK ABOUT AMERICA. People of Chili. CONCORD, N. H. UFUS MERRILL. 1850. North American Indians BOOK ABOUT AMERICA. NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA. The population of America consists of Indians, whites, and negroes. The Indians are the native, or first inhabitants. The whites are descendants of the English, French, Spanish, and other European countries. The negroes were brought here, as slaves, from Africa. The picture on the opposite page represents an Indian war- rior. When the English first settled in New England, the In- dians were very numerous ; but they have since nearly all disap- peared, The whites in South America are nearly all descendants of the Spaniards, and speak their lan- guage. Here is a picture of two & Brazilian hunters, with the game over their shoulders, and the dogs near by them. ^^■■■■■■■m 5 This picture represents the mode of travelling among the mountains of South America. It is generally done with mules, as they will endure a great deal of fatigue. The above picture rej>- resents the Llama, with a load. 8 1 Mexico is in North America, About half of the people of Mex- ico are Indians, and the others are descendants, generally, of the Spanish people. The above picture represents a Mexican gen* tleraan on horseback. 9 I>es&t$i of Monte zunu*'. 10 »5 fi^wJmttwy TrareUlng. 11 The Esquimaux Indians in* habit the northern part of North America. Their dress is made of skins. They live principally on meat, such as the flesh of the seal, whale, reindeer, and fish. They travel with dogs, harnessed in a sledge. Four or five to a sledge, as in the picture, will draw over the snow a very im- portant load. They are har- nessed two abreast. The leader is usually a well-trained dog, and is guided by the voice of his mas- ter, being generally perfectly obedient. Ten dogs, well trained, will carry ten or fifteen hundred pounds, at the rate of ten miles an hour* The leader is very at- tentive to the words of his con- ductor, and looks back over his shoulder to catch his words* 1 o ■ 13 That part of America in which we live is called the United States. It is a very large coun- try, and extends from the Atlan- tic to the Pacific Oceans. The people of the United States are called Americans, and are mostly descendants from the English. When we first settled this country, it was occupied by Indians, who got their living principally by hunting and fish- ing. Steamboats, railroads, and canals extend from one end of the United States to the other. The six eastern states are called New England. The people of New England are remarkable for their industry, good morals, and general intelligence. The r 14 Sabbath is respected, and the churches well attended. There are but very few who cannot read and write. The people of the United States appear and dress very much like the English. Many of the inhabitants of the 15 southern states are planters, who own extensive farms, or planta- tions, which are cultivated by slaves. The slaves are negroes, and form about one third of the population of some of the states. The White Mountains, in New Hampshire, are covered with snow at the top about nine months of the year. The United States have the largest lakes in the world, and the longest rivers. The largest lakes are, Lake Superior, Michi- gan, Erie, Ontario, Champlain, and Win-ne-pe-so-ge. The long- est rivers are Mississippi, Mis- souri, Ohio, Connecticut, Kenne- bec, Penobscot, Hudson, Illinois, and the Wabash. 16 BTTFUS MEBBILL COSCORB, X. II., Publishes four Series m! TOY AND JUVENILE ™ BOOKS. No. 1 Series, or one cent Toys, 12 kinds. odnV No, es, or two cent Toys, 12 kinds. jjfi^^S Oontaiiih ver two hundred ^ Engravings. \\i|| No. 4 Series, or six cent Toys, £-- 12 kinds, ISino; ^\^v Illustrated with over three hun- X 1 dred engravings. f%) The Pictorial Gallery, or ten $*^i cent 3, square 12mo, and 8^V\ pasted covers, printed with ft fancy colors.