New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-01
THE WEST.
TITO Recent Books ON IT'S Discovery
and Real DISCOVERIES.

BREAKING THE WILDERNESS. The Story Of
derings of Cabeza de Vaca to the First Descent
Of the Colorado By PoHe and the
Account Of the Exploits Of ITapRsrS ana T It5
eoiored frontispiece Ave maps t%entyf0u
Illustrations from drawings and one nund ,r,1I
S6l. G. P. Putnam's Sons.
PATHFTNDERs OF THE WEST. Being the
Thrilling Story Of the Adventures Of the Men
La Verendrye. Lewis and Clark By a. A. 2: Laut
With three maps aHd T,nf. snd draWings by
Remington, Goodwin. Marchand ana ot TIERS
Small Svo pp. XVI. $780, The Macmillan Com
pany.
The function OF the trapper and trader in the
discovery and exploration OF our Western coun-
try is becoming moro and moro recognized as
investigators are studying more closely con-
temporary records. and deIving moro deeply into
the history Of the early days OF the European
invasion OF America It was the gold to be
won by the fur trade. rather than purely geo.
graphic enthusiasm that led the pioneers OF
civilization into the so-called ''trackless wilder
ness" AS a matter Of fact. we are beginning
TO realize that the wilderness was far from
trackless or unknown to the Amerinds, tho name
adopted by Mr.. Dellenbaugh to describe the
native peoples They were we'll acquainted
with it's confguration and the boundaries OF
their respective territories were well defined
and jealousy guarded Their trails and water
highways gridironed the continent from ocean
TO ocean, and from Hudson's Bay 70 the Gulf
of Mexico. Had explorers been more ready to
avail themselves OF this knowledge, and TO rely
more on native guides as they passed from one
tribal domain to another. It seems likely that
their ambitious aims would have been more
quickly accomplished.
This was the method almost universally adopt
ed by the fur traders and trappers. as they
gradually extended the scope Of their operations
in accordance with simple commercial condi-
lions: yet we find the trails Of the explorers
continually crossing those Of the trappers and
hunters, and there were few points which the
boIdest Of them reached to which some ad-
venturous trader had not previously penetrated
from one direction or another With no thought
OF conquest OF territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and
actuated only by a desire TO accumulate wealth
as quickly as possible. it was to their interest
to maintain friendly relations with the various
tribes. who welcomed their approach. and the
opportunity afforded them of bartering skins
for the guns, powder and trinkets which they
valued. This point is brought out very clearly
both by Mr.. DeIlenbaugh and Miss Laut. espe-
ciaIy as regards the Northwestern country.
and involves considerable rewriting Of his
tory IL we are properly to give credit to the
real breakers Of the wilderness The task is not
an easy one as the early American travelling
men, were no more given to literary and scien-
tifc pursuits than are those of the present
day. and the scanty records they have left are
frequently bafflingly vague IN regard to the
places they visited and the regions they ira
versed.
In Breaking the Wilderness Mr.. Delen-
baugh aims to give in the form of a popular
narrative and, in chronological order, review
OF the leading persons and events concerned in
the opening up Of the entire country west OF
the Mississippi This naturally includes the ex-
petitions OF Cabeza de Vaca, Coronado and de
soto and in regard TO Coronados journey at
least the author reaches conclusions largely at
variance with the accepted authorities. AS the
result OF long study and personal knowledge OF
the region which the Spanish explorer pene-
trated. Mr. Dellenbaugh's views are interesting
and certainly logically convincing. and may be
accepted as correct until we hear again from
the other side OF the controversy. represented
by Bandelier. Lummis and others. II Is posi-
bic that II he had given as close study TO the
routes Of some OF the other trail breakers whom
he mentions ne would have revised his judg-
ment IN their cases as well. notably in that Of
Radisson. TO whom he refers only IN his preface
But. taken a whole. the book gives the most
comprehensive account of the history OF West
ern exploration and discovery that has been
given to the public Not the least valuable feat
ure is the preliminary view the author presents
Of what the country was into which our piO-
neers ventured. its characteristics and denizens
the buffalo. the beaver and the Amerinds. THE
North Americans Of yesterday" His style Is
auent ana agreeable. and the volume is profuse-
~ illustrated with photographs supplemented
oy numerous excellent drawings by the author
The omission By Mr. Dellenbaugh OF any ac-
count OF Pierre Esprit RadisAOn's part IN tia