Description

Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859), an English-born scientist and Fellow of the Linnean Society, is well-known for his botanical and zoological discoveries in North America. By the time this book was first published in 1821, he had spent ten years travelling and recording the natural history of the continent. Nuttall's journal recounts a year-long expedition along the Arkansas River, where he collected and classified many previously unknown species of plants. The book begins with Nuttall's departure from Philadelphia and ends with his arrival in New Orleans. The intermediary chapters include an eclectic mix of geographical and botanical description, travellers' tales, and observations on the various Native Americans Nuttall encountered: his writings demonstrate the great admiration he held for these 'aborigines'. The work also includes substantial appendices which outline the history and customs of the indigenous populations in greater detail.