If you were looking for a manual on using your iPad or iPad mini, it was not in the box. However, you can download the 130 + page PDF directly from Apple. The file is about a 13 MB download, so you may want to wait for Wi-Fi access before downloading.
This PDF comes in many languages. If you are looking for a language other than English, try this page and select the language you need.
The guide has 27 chapters that covers everything from the Basics, using Mail, Calendar, Siri, Messages, Photos, Contacts, Maps, Notes and more.
Sometimes, just flipping through the manual presents you with unexpectedly useful information.
iPad Notebook 
can’t I just look something up on the computer without downloading the whole thing?
You can go to the Apple support home page and search for your topic. Then, you can read the answer on the web page instead of downloading an entire PDF.