James Adair (1) (–1783)

Another obscure text on North American colonial themes for Nick Hudson's class, and everything is fpelt like thif, but like Ponteach, this one is quite decent and suprisingly openminded--showing the better side of the "colonial hand". A wealth of information on the material culture and life practices of the Cherokee, Choctaw and affiliated peoples in the 18th century (pre-Trail of Tears), with amusing focal points (the putative and almost superhuman heroics of the native warriors take up much space, in campfire fashion) and ultimately the formulation of a strong challenge to European values by the easygoing wealthfreeëdness of the noble savs. I like that he cares about learning from them and representing them positively and right, and I can forgive him some of his inevitable flaws (anti-black racism, solipsism, etc.).… (mere)