Among the An-ko-me-nums, or Flathead Tribes of Indians of the Pacific Coast

"Among the An-ko-me-nums, or Flathead Tribes of Indians of the Pacific Coast" by Rev. Thomas Crosby is a story centered around the experiences of the An-ko-me-nums, a group of Flathead Indians, with an emphasis on the missionary efforts to change their way of life. It highlights the hardships and changes these tribes faced when they came into contact with Europeans and were colonized. The story begins by showing the Flatheads' interesting way of life, like their customs, and why the missionaries wanted to help them. It also explains how the early traders and adventurers affected the natives’ lives, which led them to look for spiritual guidance and education through a mysterious "Book of Heaven." The storyline then brings in the first mission, the goal to introduce Christianity to the tribes, spotlighting the depressing accounts of tribal leaders seeking the white man's God but finding only disappointment; this early part sets the scene for the rest of the book, promising to explore more of the tricky interactions between the missionaries and the Native Americans.