Tents

[Sir Michael]

I just ran across the diary kept by the Deputy-Governor and Director the HBC, Nicholas Gary, during his 1821 visit to Canada to check on the progress of the unification of the HBC and NWC.  

One of several items of interest that popped up in the diary was a reference to the tent he and his companions used during the trip.  He described it as follows:

Our tent is about 30 feet by 15, of canvas, handsomely striped in paint on the top.  An oil cloth is placed as a carpet at the bottom, this forms the covering of the Tent when packed up.

He doesn't provide any other description of the tent's design but I can't imagine it being a wedge or wall tent 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.  Although it could have been.  My inclination is that it was a piece of canvas 30x15 feet that formed a wedge about 8 ft wide by 6 ft tall by 15 ft in length.  He does mention taking refuge in it from the mosquitoes so it must have had ends of some sort.  He also mentions that the poles for the tent had to put in the canoe first so that everything else could set on them.

[pathfinder]

My guess is more "Marquie-ish." Painted top. Poles loaded first to form a bottom. Sounds like lots-o-poles! Very easy to put up,lots of room. That's my guess.

[rollingb]

I agree,... it sounds more like a "Marquee" style tent to me, with it's measurements of 30'X15".  

[Sir Michael]

My primary reason for questioning the size of the tent vs size of the canvas used to make is the following description of the party using it.

Our Party consists in :Mr. William McGillivray, Mr. Simon -McGillivray and myself, Mornis an old Canadian Voyageur as McG's servant, an English Boy servant to his Brother and my man Raven, one Guide Langue, 12 Canadian Voyageurs, an Iroquois, Thoma, making in all 19 (sic) persons.

From further writings the Voyageurs did not sleep in the tent and I'd be surprised if the servants slept in it although the guide may have and I'm not sure of the status of Thoma.  That makes three possibly five occupants maybe as many as eight.  15 x 30 feet is a huge ten for that many, at least in my mind.  The Marquee design is a good possible choice especially considering the description of the painted top.

[Trois Castors]

The description made me think Marquee as well.