Chapter I: Front Matter

Arrival at Boston--Adventures between Boston and New York--Buffalo--An Asylum--Return to New York--A Voyage--On the Farm in New Hampshire.

CHAPTER III.

The Arrival of my Father and Brother--Journey to Illinois--Work on a Railroad--The Ague--Doctor Ober--Religious Impressions--The Arrival of my Mother, Sister and her Husband--A Burning Railroad Train--We go to Minnesota--Our Experience as Wood Choppers and Pioneers.

CHAPTER IV.

Future Hopes--Farm Life--Norwegian Pioneers--The Condition of the Immigrant at the Beginning of the Fifties--Religious Meetings--The Growth of the Settlement--Vasa Township Organized--A Lutheran Church Established--My Wedding--Speculation--The Crisis of 1857--Study of Law in Red Wing--I am admitted to the Bar and elected County Auditor--Politics in 1860--War is Imminent.

CHAPTER V.

The Beginning of the Civil War--The Scandinavians taking part in it--Appeal in _Hemlandet_ to the Scandinavians of Minnesota--Company D. Organized--The Expressions of the Press--The Departure--The March over the Cumberland Mountains--The Fate of the Third Regiment.

CHAPTER VI.

Events of 1863--The Siege of Vicksburg--Anecdotes about Gens. Logan, Stevenson and Grant--Little Rock Captured--Recruiting at Fort Snelling--The engagement at Fitzhugh's Woods--Pine Bluff--Winter Quarters at Duvall's Bluff--Death of Lincoln--Close of the War--The Third Regiment Disbanded.

CHAPTER VII.

Reconstruction in the South--Third Regiment Mustered Out--The Farewell Order--Sacrifices and Costs of the War.

CHAPTER VIII.

My Reason for Taking Part in the Civil War--The Dignity of Labor--The Firm Mattson & Webster--_Svenska Amerikanaren_, its Program and Reception--The State Emigration Bureau of Minnesota--Its Aim, Plan and Work.

CHAPTER IX.

Visit to Sweden in 1868-1869--The Object of my Journey--Experiences and Observations During the Same--Difference Between American and Swedish Customs--My Birth-place--Arrival and Visit There--Visit to Christianstad--Visit to Stockholm--The Swedish Parliament--My Return to America--Reflections on and Impressions of the Condition of the Bureaucracy of Sweden.

CHAPTER X.

The Importance of the Scandinavian Element--A Swede Elected Secretary of State in Minnesota--False Rumors of Indian Depredations--The Northern Pacific Railroad is Built--Trip to Philadelphia--The National Convention at Indianapolis--Delegation to Washington--A Swedish Colony in Mississippi Moved to Minnesota--The Second Voyage to Europe.

CHAPTER XI.

In Sweden Again--Reception at My Old Home--Visit to Northern Sweden--Field Maneuvers in Sweden--The Opening of Parliament--In Norway--Visit in Stockholm--Royal Palaces--The Goeta Canal--A Trip to Finland and Russia--King Oscar II.--A Trip to Dalarne in the Winter.

CHAPTER XII.

Visit in Minnesota and Philadelphia--Conversation with Jay Cooke--The Crisis of 1873--Negotiations in Holland--Draining of a Lake in Skane--Icelandic Colony in Manitoba--Return to America.

CHAPTER XIII.

Grasshopper Ravages in Minnesota--The Presidential Election--Chosen Presidential Elector--Minnesota _Stats Tidning_--_Svenska Tribunen_ in Chicago--Farm in Northwestern Minnesota--Journalistic Work.

CHAPTER XIV.

I am Appointed Consul-General to India--Assassination of Garfield--Departure for India--My Stay in Chicago and Washington--Paris and Versailles--Rome--Naples--Pompeii--From Naples to Alexandria--Interesting Acquaintances on the Voyage--The First Impressions in Egypt.

CHAPTER XV.

Alexandria and its Monuments--The Egyptian "Fellahs"--The Mohammedans and Their Religion--The Voyage Through the Suez Canal--The Red Sea--The Indian Ocean--The Arrival at Calcutta.

CHAPTER XVI.

India--Its People, Religion, Etc.--The Fertility of the Country--The Climate--The Dwellings--Punkah--Costumes--Calcutta--Dalhousie Square--Life in the Streets.

CHAPTER XVII.

The Promenades of the Fashionable World--Maidan--The Viceroy--British Dominions in India.

CHAPTER XVIII.

An Indian Fete--The Prince of Burdwan--Indian Luxury--The Riches and Romantic Life of an Indian Prince--Poverty and Riches.

CHAPTER XIX.

Allahabad--Sacred Places--Kumbh Mela--Pilgrimages--Bathing in the Ganges--Fakirs and Penitents--Sacred Rites--Superstitions.

CHAPTER XX.

Benares, the Holy City of the Hindoos--Its Temples and Worshipers--The Sacred Monkeys.

CHAPTER XXI.

Nimtoolaghat--Cremation in India--Parsee Funeral Rites.

CHAPTER XXII.

Heathenism and Christianity--The Religion of the Hindoos--Caste--The Brahmins--Their Tyranny--Superstition--The Influence of Christianity--Keshub-Chunder-Sen, the Indian Reformer--His faith and Influence.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Steamboating On the Ganges--Life on the River--The Greatest Business Firm in the World--Sceneries--Temples--Serampoor--Boat Races--An Excursion to the Himalayas--Darjieling and Himalaya Railroad--Tea Plantations--Darjieling--Llamas--View from the Mountains.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Cholera and other Diseases--The Causes of Cholera--How the Soldiers are Protected Against it--Sudden Deaths--Fevers--The Teraj--Contempt for Death--The Cholera Hospital--The Sisters of Mercy--The Princes Tagore--Hindoo Family Customs--Hindoo Gallantry--A Hindoo Fete.

CHAPTER XXV.

Agriculture, Manufacture and Architecture--Wheat Growing--The Farm Laborer--His Condition, Implements, etc. The Taj-Mahal--Jugglers--Snake Charmers--From My Journal.

CHAPTER XXVI.

The Women of India--The Widows--The American Zenana--Prizes Awarded in a Girl's School--Annandabai Joshee--Her Visit to America--Reports to the Government--Departure from India--Burmah--Ceylon--Arabia--Cairo.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Cairo--Cheop's Pyramid--Venice--The St. Gotthard Tunnel--On the Rhine--Visit in Holland and England--Father Nugent--Arrival at New York.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Home from India--A Friendly Reception--Journey to New Mexico--The Maxwell Land Grant Company--Renewed Visits to England and Holland--Re-elected Secretary of State--Visit of the Swedish Officers in Minneapolis and St. Paul--Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Landing of the First Swedes in Delaware.

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Causes of Immigration--American Influence on Europe, and Especially on Sweden--The Condition of the Swedes in America--American Characteristics--Antipathy against Foreigners--The Swedish Press on America--American Heiresses.