"A party of nine trappers happening to call at the village on their way to the fort, among whom was my old friend Harris, I proposed to accompany them. We started, and reached the fort without accident, except sustaining another siege from the Black Feet. After our departure, the whole village followed to purchase their spring supply of necessaries at the fort. They brought an immense stock of peltry, with which they purchased everything that they stood in need of."
P. 291-292, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JAMES P BECKWOURTH (1856)
[I was struck by the fact that the Crow Indians with whom James P. Beckwourth was associated as a chief, in "the wild," were by then domesticated to the point that they found it necessary to exchange "peltry" of beaver , otter, deer, etc., that they had been proficient enough to procure by native means for their spring "necessaries" at a fort! There is undoubtedly a parable and a paradox in there somewhere for consumers!]
Sunday, July 22, 2018
BECKWOURTH
"A party of nine trappers happening to call at the village on their way to the fort, among whom was my old friend Harris, I proposed to accompany them. We started, and reached the fort without accident, except sustaining another siege from the Black Feet. After our departure, the whole village followed to purchase their spring supply of necessaries at the fort. They brought an immense stock of peltry, with which they purchased everything that they stood in need of."
P. 291-292, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JAMES P BECKWOURTH (1856)
[I was struck by the fact that the Crow Indians with whom James P. Beckwourth was associated as a chief, in "the wild," were by then domesticated to the point that they found it necessary to exchange "peltry" of beaver , otter, deer, etc., that they had been proficient enough to procure by native means for their spring "necessaries" at a fort! There is undoubtedly a parable and a paradox in there somewhere for consumers!]