SEVEN AND NINE YEARS AMONG THE CAMANCHES AND APACHES. AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Jersey City: Published by Clark Johnson, M. D., 1873., 1873. First edition. First edition. 12mo. Original orange cloth, titles stamped in black on the front cover and spine, 309 pp. [blank], plus one page of advertising, frontispiece, illustrated, plates, advertisement. "Best described as a fictional autobiography, Clark Johnson authored the following adventure to promote the sale of his brand of Homeopathic elixir or commonly known as 'Snake Oil.' Using the fictitious heroes, Edwin Eastman and his wife, Mr. Johnson penned the hair-raising tale of a pioneer family wandering off the wagon trail and straight into the heart of hostile Indian country. All but he and his wife were struck down in the ensuing battle. Captured, Edwin and Mrs. Eastman survived only to be imprisoned by the Comanche Nation with Mrs. Eastman eventually being sold to the Apache's. Edwin, lives among the Comanches for seven long and torturous years. Demonstrating courage and tenacity, Edwin was taken in by the great medicine Chief Watkometkla. Allowed to live, Mr. Eastman gained valuable knowledge in the art of Homeopathic medicine and the Comanche way of life. Through the adventure of his captivity, Mr. Johnson describes Edwin's life in detail. The Native American culture. The rise of new leaders. The preparation for war. Scenes of great battles. Habits, lifestyle and so on. Mr. Johnson's knowledge of these various traits were unfortunately 'borrowed' from a previous novel published in 1854 and written by T.D. Bonner. The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth. Eventually escaping, Mr. Eastman made his way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There he met with Ned Harding and started his two year adventure as a miner. Finally discovering new information about his wife, he and several members of his mining camp set forth to rescue her from the deadly Apache Nation. Successful, the hero and heroine are reunited after nine long years. Quickly traveling back to the East and settling into their private lives." Ayer 90 says "A revolting fictitious story written to advertise Dr. Clark Johnson's Indian blood syrup, and made up mainly of descriptions of Indian life and customs, some of which are cribbed, with considerable garbling from Catlin. --- G. P. Garrison." The advertisement at the rear of the book promotes Dr. Johnson's Indian blood syrup, "a most remarkable purifier of the blood." Former owner's stamped name on the front pastedown sheet, light to moderate foxing throughout, an old water stain in the lower margin in decreasing size until page 247, light wear to a few page edges, else a good, tight copy. Very scarce.