The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-08-17
Fur Hunters.

11unterSs
The business OF collecting furs in the Willis
Of Canada or the great Western wilderness
has brought into being peculiar race OF
men. Al nrst the fur companies and traders
sent out parties of white men to hunt the
various fur-bearing animals in their distant
haunts, but in sequence of the intercourse
OF these men with the lnuians, a race OF halt
breeds have sprung UP, who have almost mo
nOpolzed the business in Canada, and are
numerous in American tur regions Some
interesting facts concerning this peculiar
class Of hunters are developed by a writer in
the New York Commercial Advertiser. III
Canada they leave the ironties early in will
ter with supplies of provisions, clothing, am-
munition, &c. They locate themselves by
the ba1 Ks OF rivers, the shores of lakes, and
In the woods, where they encamp and hun,
and trade with the Indians all winter. In
the spring they transport their furs to the
headquarters on Lake Superior.
On the Missouri river somewhat different
system prevails. With the opening of navi-
CATION steamers are dispatched in great haste
to the upper country laden with supplies Of
coffee, tobacco, rifles, ammunition, blankets.
scarlet cloth. light shawls. trinkets and other
articles used in trade with the trappers in
Guiding of course plentiful allowance of bad
rum. These are exchanged for the pelts col
lected during the previous fall and winter
Proceedings always commence by liberal
distribution OF liquor among the hunters and
trappers, who are thus beguiled into shame
full bargains. The tricks resorted to by the
agents on these occasions almost exceed be-
lief. Independent of the exorbitant prices
charged. often for the poorest articles, the
most shameless frauds are employed for the
purpose OF cheating in weights and measures.
The quart can, for example, out of which
whisky is dealt, will often be found nearly
half full OF grease, but SO stupefed have the
purchasers been rendered that this is seldom
detected. Many of the hunters are white
men who have SO thoroughly adopted savage
habits that it is oftentimes difcul: to dislin-
guish them from the genuine red skins A
few years of b.rbarism almost oblitcrates ey-
cry token of civilization. The whites always
adopt Indian habits, and they consider it Il
compliment to be mistaken for an unaduter-
ated savage. The beard is pulled out the
hair is suffered to grow long, streaming in
the wind the regular hunting shirt ,ht
leggings with fringes and bells the mecca
sins ornamanted with beads the scarlet
blanket fastened to the waist with belt
which is stuck here and there with knives
and pistols are always worn. Even the horst
which the hunter rides and whose prancnl
he admires almost as much as his own all
ventures, is fanciiul!y ornamented with ia
gles' plnmes and paint.
As class, hunters and trappers are grea
Boosters and swagsefers, and they will drink
and gamble till The last penn! is expended
They are exceedingly hardy and venturous
take almost unerring aim in War or the chas,
and are utterly reckless OF human life. Min,
tenths Ot them end their days by violence O.
intOxication but the life h rs such a charm
for others that fresh recruits are alway
forthcoming, some of these from the larg
cities, but a greater number from the oorde
and southern states. Their tondness for Ii
quor is exc npIitied by disgusting practic
said to be exhibited among them. AS sool
as the liquor is exposed one man PUSHES fol
ward and after Stacking his thi.st. fills hi
mouth until the cheeks appear distended llk
bladders. He then rushes among his friend
giving each friendly saIuta,lon by spirtin
into his mouth a SINAI! quantity OF the burn
Ing fluid. He is followed. if necessary. by
second and third, un,ii all present have pal
taken.
The men employed in hunting for iurs ar
not usually at liberty to wander from one i'
cality to another. y given district is a>sigr
ed to each "brigade," who divide ,hemseve
into pairs, keeping together for mutual pr,
lection. They wander over every prairi,
explore every creek and scale every prec
pice, where there is a possibility Of fndin
game. But besides these, there are bodie
of men known as free trappers,' who 60 OF
on their own responsibility. A still inferic
order are known as skin trappers, their hor
es and accoutrements being furnished by tn