Voyageur documentation, quotes, etc.

[mario]

In a French context (pre-1763):

Memoir of a French and Indian War Soldier, "Joliecoeur" Charles Bonin:

   â€œBut since they are good fighters and used to savage ways, it is more difficult to vanquish them. They are good voyageurs, guiding their canoes skillfully, singing all the time. They spend freely what they earn on their trips with traders, who go every year to barter with the savage northern tribes. These trading trips sometimes take more than a year.
   â€œThe people of Montreal call the people of Quebec “sheep”. The latter are really gentler and less vainglorious. They retaliate by calling the people of Montreal “Wolves”, a term which fits them well enough, as their time is spent mostly in the wolves with savages.”
 page 37-38

“The voyageurs, who do not know this herb [snakeroot], carry around their necks a small bag filled with salt.”
 page 59

“He was a Canadian named Monceau, thirty-six years old, strong and very swift runner, who spoke several savage tongues because he had lived on friendly terms with them and had gone with them on war and hunting parties, from his youth up.”
 page 96

   â€œThe voyageurs were, moreover, never prevented from having a supply of it [brandy] for their own needs; for this liquor, which keeps up their courage, helps them to get favors, particularly when they have nothing else to give the savages in return for game.”
 page 141

“They usually have three knives; one hung around the neck, one in the belt and one fastened in the garter on the outside of the leg. Canadians arm themselves in the same way…”
page 225-226
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Journals of Louis Antoine de Bougainville:

“M. de Montigny, officer of colonial troops, is in charge of so-called voyageurs of the West who have come here for the expedition.” [Oswego]
    29 July 1756, page 19

   â€œM. de Montcalm arrived at seven o’clock with M. de Montigny, the voyageurs and the Menominees.
    August 6, 1756, page 24

“I would hold back all the voyageurs and employees of the Far West, gaining two thousand excellent men.”
 2-4 September 1758, page 271

“I would bring up all the companies of regulars and colony troops to sixty men, incorporating in them elite Canadians [likely made up at least in part, by the voyageurs he speaks of so highly] who would serve the whole campaign with pay furnished by the King or even by the parishes; this mixture would give each troop good shots, good canoemen, and good workmen of all kinds whose mutual emulation would make into excellent warriors.”
 September 4 1758, page 272

“On the eighth, the Chevalier de Levis returned from St. Frederic. He found 950 Canadians, and the detachment is composed of the good kind, almost all voyageurs. One recognizes them easily by their looks, by their size, and because all of them are tattooed on their bodies with the figures of plants or animals."
 4 October 1758, page 288

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Travels in North America, Peter Kalm:



“Similarly the French merchants from Montreal, after having spent six months among various Indian nations in order to purchase skins of beasts and furs, return at the end of August and go down to Quebec in September or October to sell their goods.”
 page 431

‘There are likewise examples of some Frenchmen going amongst the Indians and following their mode of life.”
 page 457

“…or by the Frenchmen who travel in the country and often contribute their share to the increase of the Indian families, to which the women, it is said, have no serious objection.”
 page 472

“It is inconceivable what hardships the people in Canada must undergo on their hunting journeys. Sometimes they must carry their goods a great way by land. Frequently they are abused by the Indians, and sometimes they are killed by them. They often suffer hunger, thirst, heat and cold, are bitten by gnats and exposed to the bite of poisonous snakes and other dangerous animals and insects. These [hunting expeditions] destroy a great part of the youth in Canada, and prevent the people from growing old. By this means, however, they become such brave soldiers, and so inured to fatigue that none of them fear danger or hardships. Many of them settle among the Indians far from Canada, marry Indian women, and never come back again.”
 page 522

“When the French are traveling about in this country, they are generally dressed like the natives; they wear no trousers…”
 page 560


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"26th September (1757) Three Chickersaws were killed at their hunting camp by a Gang of Chactaws. A Gang of Chickersaws went to War against the new French Fort on the Forks of the Waubash and the Cherockee Rivers. On the first of August arrived here, having taken a French Man alive and brought him here.... He appears to be about sixty Years of Age, his Body marked all over like an Indian. He tells the Indians the Intent of the French's building that Fort was to make a Peace with the Cherokees and their Nation if possible. He says they have six hundred Men in that Fort but no Indians at Present, but expect a large Nation of Indians which will be there this insuing Spring."

Journal of John Buckles. CRSC, Documents Relating to Indian Affairs, 1754-1765. Page 459.  Courtesy of J. Privott

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“The third sort of trade was undertaken by traders or woodsmen who loaded up some canoes with goods, obtained their passes & went off to Indian nations beyond the range of our posts. They waited for the Indians to return to their villages after the hunt, or followed them into the bush, and came back after trading the goods in their canoes for considerable profits.”

   Pouchot, Pierre, Memoirs on the Late War in North America between France and England pg. 343



More to follow.

Mario

[sse]

Were I to switch personas, it would definitely be in this direction...love this stuff.

[ridjrunr]

Good stuff Mario,thanks for posting

[mario]

Were I to switch personas, it would definitely be in this direction...love this stuff.

Come to the dark side, mon frere...we have brandy.  

I also have my personal documentation where I document the items I carry/use/wear if anyone is interested.

Mario

[ridjrunr]

what exactly is yer persona? or , do you have a couple that you use depending on location?

[sse]

I'm not sure I'd get along too well with a flinter...sooner or later I'll find out.

[mario]

I'm not sure I'd get along too well with a flinter...sooner or later I'll find out.

Honestly, I have more reliable ignition with my flinters than with the caplocks I owned. I think part of it is purely psychological. BECAUSE it's a flintlock, I take better care of it.

what exactly is yer persona? or , do you have a couple that you use depending on location?

Depending on time and place:

Voyageur/furtrader/milicien (NY, Great Lakes)- 1740-1760
Indian Department ranger (NY) 1777-83
Brant's Volunteer, loyalist militia (NY) 1777-83

There have also been:

Soldier of Les Compagnies franches de la Marine /French Marine (NY)- 1755-60
Mohawk warrior (NY)- 1777-83

Working on:

Preacher, probably Anglican (SC)- 1770-1783
Loyalist Militiaman/tavern owner (SC)- 1775-83


Mario

[sse]

BECAUSE it's a flintlock, I take better care of it.

Ya better if ya want it to go off...

[ridjrunr]

sse, Its alot easier than people sometimes think. I have converted two from cap to flint and plan on doin a third soon.
IMO, a nipple and fire channel  foul easier that a flash hole.
But more important,... its just more fun  

[sse]

But more important,... its just more fun

Pretty much why I enjoy muzzleloaders in general...

[ridjrunr]

But more important,... its just more fun

Pretty much why I enjoy muzzleloaders in general...

 

[sse]

But more important,... its just more fun

Pretty much why I enjoy muzzleloaders in general...

 

[slash]

Great stuff Mario! hope to see more, and for me I just loving priming the pan,

[Trois Castors]

“On the eighth, the Chevalier de Levis returned from St. Frederic. He found 950 Canadians, and the detachment is composed of the good kind, almost all voyageurs. One recognizes them easily by their looks, by their size, and because all of them are tattooed on their bodies with the figures of plants or animals."
 4 October 1758, page 288

I have beaver footprints on the back of my left leg.Upon seeing this a woman at a public event
declared loudly"NOBODY HAD TATOOS IN THE OLD DAYS!"

Good stuff Mario,Thanks.

[Voyageur]

Mario, thanks for you contribution once again. It never fails you really seem to draw us all further into the mystique of " Les coureurs du bois ". I spent many a day trying to gather reliable information and I must say that my knowledge of French certainly was necessary. It's a fantastic story, that more people should be cognizant. My Mom was a professor of History and she fostered my love for it's study, so I continue reliving the past in my studies. "Doc"