Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-08
Nv IAcoIJEs LARPENTEUR

The tribe then numbered about
30 600 and was divided into more than
30 bands which spread out and roameo
over a large territory. The area oc-
cupied, now comprises northeastern
Montana, northwestern North Dakota
and the southern part Of Saskatchewan
in Canada.
Of the Hudson's Bay, who either took
goods into the camps Of the different
bands or set up trading posts called
used Flat Steel
The tool which was used to strike
the flint, is a piece Of flat steel, "a
inches long, ! inch wide and h Of an
inch thick. It was bent, bringing the
outside ends together and welding
them into a flat point TO be used for
screw driver. The name, Hudson's
Bay, was stamped on the tool, as u
Illustrated.
This instrument, when completed
resembled the shape of a pear. With
the flat side up 1t measured 81 inches
long, IL inches at the widest part
and x of an inch thick. 1t was known
among the Indians as flint striker
and was usually carried at the hip
suspended by a short ornamenteo
buckskin strap which was attached 10
the top edge Of a knife scabbard.
According to the following letters
received by the writer, the white man
had no particular name for 1t,
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
June 9th, 1889.
Dear sir:
Your Indian curio was identified
by j. w. Anderson, district man
ager Of Ungava, for the companys
f54r. frada dnY7qFtrnenf
Apparently, in the last century,
this small instrument was given
to Indians as q premium to en-
courage them to trade at company
posts. The small piece Of steel had
apparently no particular name,
and It did have q screw driver on
the point. The Indians, Of course,
had knives and axes on which TO
strike flints.
Your curio was merely an extra
gadget to appeal TO the native
mind Mr.. Anderson says ne re-
members seeing them used as late
as 1919.
Yours faithfully,
For the Hudson'S Bay Co.
Alice MacKay,
1.-THE Beaver" Office.
Winnipeg, Manitoba,
September 18th, 1889.
Dear sir:
In further reference to your
letter Of June /, 1898, which was
answered by Mrs. MacKay on June
9th, the Hudson's Bay steel Inn
plement about which you inquired
seems to have been In quite COM
mon use among the Indians Tor
IN our historical collection we
have one of these instruments at
tached by a chain to small bead
ed bag, containing pith-wood ana
flint. This was acquired from the
Stoney Indians on PauIS reserve
we trust this further note may
be Of interest to you.
Yours faithfully,
For the Hudson's Bay Co.
clifford Wilson,
"The Beaver" Offlce.
A. piece Of flint about one inch square
and the following described finder
were used with the striker. A dried
toadstool about an inch IN diameter
was halved, using sharp knife. the
contents. properly cured, resembles
cocoa. A thick paste was made, using
black powder and water, and this was
spread over the cut surface and set
away to dry.
Kept In Pouches
Often times when suitable sizes Of
dry toadstools were not plentiful, then
large ones were halved and coated.
When dry, they were cut into proper
sizes and put away In buckskin pouch
es to keep dry until needed. On jour
neys these pouches were kept unuer
clothing against the warmth OF bodies
TO protect them against wet weather
30 Ell hU
method, the following procedure was
If out on the prairie, dry grass was
first placed beneath dry buffalo chips,
or IL the camp was made near tim
Der, dry bark and small sticks were
used.
The piece Of flint was placed over
a toadstool, with the coated side next
TO the flint. The two were held firmly
ia the left hand, with the thumb on
the Tint. The top edge Of the flint
and finder was slightly above the
thumb and first and second joints Of
the first finger. The steel was held
tightly In the right hand, between the
screw driver point towards the wrist.
The flint was struck sharply with the
~belly" part Of the steel striker.
This produced a spark which ignited
the powder and set fire to the dry
toadstool. The lighted toadstool was
then placed In the prepared grass or
bark, and by tanning 1t with the cor
ner Of a blanket, a fire was started.
The Hudson's Bay Co.'s strikers
we're not the only ones used. Other
strikers were later made from cid files,
cut to about three inches.
II a war or hunting party was out
and the finder happened TO be damp
81 wet, powder was put into the barrel
az 4 muzzle-loader and loosely wadded
with q piece Of cotton rag. When the
charge was fired, the rag was ignited
enough TO start q fire.
Sulphur matches were IN use among
tie Assinniboines, as near as they can
remember. after 1870.
For some time the Indians were not
adapted to the sulphur match AND
many times the match was applied 70
me pipe too soon after 1t was struck
ana the result was that the smoker
inhaled the fumes Of the sulphur and
amid much coughing and sneezing
spoiled an anticipated qliet soothing
smoke.
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1880 - 1880 q. eg4qw.tvars Vy4akAn