The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-11-21
FOLLOWING THE TRAILS WITH THE FUR TRADERS OF NORTHWEST;
THE DIFFERENT MODES OF TRAVEL EMPLOYED I'M EARLY DAYS
BY MARTHA e. PLAssMANN

IF distances were estimated by the
comparative time taken to cover
= them a hundred years ago and to-
day, it would seem there mad been a
remarkable shrinkage of the earth 5
surface during that period. We are
told when in the Colonial days, and
later, a man undertook the journey
from New Hampshire or Vermont to
Boston, prayers were offered for his
safe return. He then, in winter,
slung a bucket or pail, whichever he
chose to term it, of frozen bean por
ridge underneath his wagon, where
with to refresh himself on the way,
and coura geously set out. If ne were
fortunate ne might make the round
trip within a month. This will give
some idea of what a short journey
then meant. Communication be-
tween more distant points meant a
proportionate extension of time.
When the Northwest, or Hudson's
Bay Fur companies began trading in
the northwest, it was necessary to
order their goods from England,
eighteen months before they were to
be sent from Montreal. Arriving in
summer, they would be made up into
PlChd5Oo VI hOOoI A1iiCbJ POdhoo CciOh
in the winter and started west in
May. They were taken in canoes of
birch bark, by way of the st. Law
French river, Lake Huron, Lake Su-
perior Rainy lake, Lake Winnipeg, |
and the Saskatchewan river On
reaching the various posts the goods |
were battered for furs which, says
A aT|
Montreal the next fall, and from
thence were shipped chiefly to Eng
land and "a months after they
had been forwarded from Montreal"
If the goods were sent to more out
lying posts, often an additional
twelve months elapsed before they
were sold and returns made.
While there was competition be-
tween the two companies, the Hud-
sons Bay company used wooden
boats, which had the advantage of
being stronger but the disadvantage
that they were more difficult to
transport from one waterway to the
rext. The canoes of the Northwest
company were sometimes ninety feet
long, but those in common use did
not measure over thirty-six feet
They were capable of carrying
heavy freight, but were easily in
jured. For mending them, gum,
birch bark, and thread-like roots of
cedar, called "watape," were carried !
in every boat. 1t is necessary to use
great care in launching the canoes,
as the gravel at the bottom of the
river, if struck too hard might cause
! leak.
Most of the boatmen were French
7oyaguers, or mixed bloods, who re-
,embled the Indians in their love of
gay attire, and also in other ways.
The departure of the canoes from
above Montreal, distance of nine
niles, must have been a scene never
% be forgotten. There might be
perhaps a hundred canoes with eight
men to each, including steersman
md pilot TO revery ten canoes.
The cargo of canoe consisted of
trading goods, and ONE
bird provisions. Then there werel
cooking utensils, tarpaulin for a tent.
material for repairing the canoes,
nd dippers and sponges for bail
ng. AS each canoe was loaded, it
Tas launched, and rowed about wait
ng for the rest. At last all are
aunched, the chief steersman lifts
is pole above his head, then drops
/. At once Give hundred paddles
ip as with one arm, and there shoots
ut from the ninety-foot canoes, the
arrow, swift craft of the partners,
acing ahead to be at the rendez-
Gus before the cargoes arriYe.'
hose on shore cheer the out-goers,
tho iOin in a. chansOn to which
heir oars keep time. There was
ute as much enthusiasm at the re-
i'm of the brigade, but the travel
-orn voyageurs could not then have
cen so picturesque.
In the large canoes of the Gale =