Okah Tubbee, originally known as Warner McCary, was born in Natchez, Mississippi, around 1810 to an enslaved African American woman. As a young man, he went by various names, including James Warner, William McCary, and simply Cary. In 1836, he left Natchez to work in New Orleans with intermittent stints as a musician and cigar vendor along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. He met and married Laah Ceil, the daughter of a Delaware Indian mother and a Mohawk (or Mahican) father. In 1843, aided by local whites who believed him to be a Native American, Tubbee received a permit to live in Mississippi as a free person of color. Over the next several years he traveled extensively performing as a musician and lecturer. By 1847, Tubbee was widely known as an Indian doctor and son of a Choctaw chief. Tubbee's legend grew along with his fame, and by 1849 he was reportedly able to speak fourteen languages and play over fifty musical instruments.Laah Ceil recorded a narrative of her husband's life in 1848, and the Reverend Lewis Allen added an introductory essay. This 1852 edition includes a version of Allen's ""Essay upon the Indian Character"" and the so-called Indian Covenant ""between the Six Nations and the Choctaws,"" signed by Pochongehala. It concludes with an original poem by Laah Ceil and a collection of letters, documents, and vouchers attesting to Okah Tubbee's identity and his medical skill.

A Sketch of the Life of Okah Tubbee, published in 1852, begins with testimonials regarding Okah Tubbee''s flute-playing abilities and with a lightly edited version of Lewis Allen''s "Essay Upon the Indian Character" from the earlier edition of Tubbee''s narrative, as well as the so-called Indian Covenant "between the Six Nations and the Choctaws." Tubbee''s narrative begins with brief recollections of his father and Tubbee''s childhood with his "unnatural mother." Tubbee''s visit to Choctaw Indians in Alexandria is described before his apprenticeship to the cruel blacksmith Mr. Russell, and his subsequent apprenticeship to Dr. A.P. Merrill, leading to his desire to become an "Indian Doctor." Tubbee''s details his travels and voyages by steamboat, first as a musician with the Louisiana Volunteers and later on his own. Towards the end of his narrative, Tubbee expresses a desire to let his wife, Laah Ceil, speak for herself. In this final, additional section, Laah Ceil describes her birth, her education, her Christian convictions, and the manner in which she met and married Tubbee. She also recounts their travels together and their advocacy "in behalf of the Indians" and against forced relocation. The Sketch concludes with an original poem by Laah Ceil and a collection of letters, documents, and vouchers attesting to Okah Tubbee''s identity and his medical skill.A DOCSOUTH BOOK. This collaboration between UNC Press and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library brings classic works from the digital library of Documenting the American South back into print. DocSouth Books uses the latest digital technologies to make these works available in paperback and e-book formats. Each book contains a short summary and is otherwise unaltered from the original publication. DocSouth Books provide affordable and easily accessible editions to a new generation of scholars, students, and general readers.

Okah Tubbee, originally known as Warner McCary, was born in Natchez, Mississippi, around 1810 to an enslaved African American woman. As a young man, he went by various names, including James Warner, William McCary, and simply Cary. In 1836, he left Natchez to work in New Orleans with intermittent stints as a musician and cigar vendor along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. He met and married Laah Ceil, the daughter of a Delaware Indian mother and a Mohawk (or Mahican) father. In 1843, aided by local whites who believed him to be a Native American, Tubbee received a permit to live in Mississippi as a free person of color. Over the next several years he traveled extensively performing as a musician and lecturer. By 1847, Tubbee was widely known as an Indian doctor and son of a Choctaw chief. Tubbee's legend grew along with his fame, and by 1849 he was reportedly able to speak fourteen languages and play over fifty musical instruments.Laah Ceil recorded a narrative of her husband's life in 1848, and the Reverend Lewis Allen added an introductory essay. This 1852 edition includes a version of Allen's ""Essay upon the Indian Character"" and the so-called Indian Covenant ""between the Six Nations and the Choctaws,"" signed by Pochongehala. It concludes with an original poem by Laah Ceil and a collection of letters, documents, and vouchers attesting to Okah Tubbee's identity and his medical skill.

A Sketch of the Life of Okah Tubbee, published in 1852, begins with testimonials regarding Okah Tubbee''s flute-playing abilities and with a lightly edited version of Lewis Allen''s "Essay Upon the Indian Character" from the earlier edition of Tubbee''s narrative, as well as the so-called Indian Covenant "between the Six Nations and the Choctaws." Tubbee''s narrative begins with brief recollections of his father and Tubbee''s childhood with his "unnatural mother." Tubbee''s visit to Choctaw Indians in Alexandria is described before his apprenticeship to the cruel blacksmith Mr. Russell, and his subsequent apprenticeship to Dr. A.P. Merrill, leading to his desire to become an "Indian Doctor." Tubbee''s details his travels and voyages by steamboat, first as a musician with the Louisiana Volunteers and later on his own. Towards the end of his narrative, Tubbee expresses a desire to let his wife, Laah Ceil, speak for herself. In this final, additional section, Laah Ceil describes her birth, her education, her Christian convictions, and the manner in which she met and married Tubbee. She also recounts their travels together and their advocacy "in behalf of the Indians" and against forced relocation. The Sketch concludes with an original poem by Laah Ceil and a collection of letters, documents, and vouchers attesting to Okah Tubbee''s identity and his medical skill.A DOCSOUTH BOOK. This collaboration between UNC Press and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library brings classic works from the digital library of Documenting the American South back into print. DocSouth Books uses the latest digital technologies to make these works available in paperback and e-book formats. Each book contains a short summary and is otherwise unaltered from the original publication. DocSouth Books provide affordable and easily accessible editions to a new generation of scholars, students, and general readers.