Three years among the Indians and Mexicans

the long version

One of the earliest narratives of the fur-trade; covering experiences on the upper Missouri in 1809, and an expedition to Santa Fe, in 1821. Written from James' dictation by Nathan Niles, who, resenting local newspaper criticism, destroyed nearly all copies. The first first copy of James' work to turn up came into the collection of the Missouri Historical Society in 1909 or 1910. Realizing the importance and rarity of the James narrative, this Society issued the first reprint in 1916.