The Writings of David Thompson, Volume 2 : The Travels, 1848 Version, and Associated Texts

A compelling tale of exploration, encounter, and commerce, from the Rocky Mountains to the mouth of the Columbia River. David Thompson's Travels is one of the finest early expressions of the Canadian experience. The work is not only the account of a remarkable life in the fur trade but an extended meditation on the land and Native peoples of western North America. The second in a planned three volumes of Thompson's writings, this edition completes the great surveyor and fur trader's spirited autobiographical narrative. In the 1848 Travels, Thompson describes his most enduring historical legacy - the extension of the fur trade across the Continental Divide between 1807 and 1812. During these years he established several Nor'wester trading posts, made contact with the tribal peoples of the Columbia Plateau, and tirelessly carteped the lands he traversed, all the time striving westward toward the Pacific. The tale culminates with Thompson's historic arrival at the mouth of the Columbia in July 1811. Like its companion Volume 1, this work presents an entirely new transcription by William Moreau of Thompson's manuscript, and is accompanied by an introductory essay placing the author in his historical and intellectual context. Extensive critical annotations, a biographical appendix, and historical and modern cartes, make this the definitive collection of Thompson's works, and bring one of North America's most important travelers and surveyors to a new generation of readers David Thompson's Travels is one of the finest early expressions of the Canadian experience. The work is not only the account of a remarkable life in the fur trade but an extended meditation on the land and Native peoples of western North America. The second in a planned three volumes of Thompson's writings, this edition completes the great surveyor and fur trader's spirited autobiographical narrative. In the 1848 Travels, Thompson describes his most enduring historical legacy - the extension of the fur trade across the Continental Divide between 1807 and 1812. During these years he established several Nor'wester trading posts, made contact with the tribal peoples of the Columbia Plateau, and tirelessly mapped the lands he traversed, all the time striving westward toward the Pacific. The tale culminates with Thompson's historic arrival at the mouth of the Columbia in July 1811. Like its companion Volume 1, this work presents an entirely new transcription by William Moreau of Thompson's manuscript, and is accompanied by an introductory essay placing the author in his historical and intellectual context. Extensive critical annotations, a biographical appendix, and historical and modern maps, make this the definitive collection of Thompson's works, and bring one of North America's most important travelers and surveyors to a new generation of readers. "In the first of three volumes that will finally bring all of David Thompson's writings together, editor William Moreau presents the Travels narrative as it existed in 1850, when the author was forced to abandon the work, and supplements it with a textual introduction, extensive annotations, and historical and modern maps." "The definitive collection of Thompson's works, The Writings of David Thompson will present one of North America's most important early travellers and surveyors and his world to a whole new generation of readers."--Jacket Cover Copyright CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION TEXTUAL INTRODUCTION I - THE WESTERN INTERIOR II - THE NATIVES OF NORTH AMERICA III - ACROSS THE DIVIDE: 1807–1811 IV - TO THE PACIFIC AND DOWN TO MONTREAL: 1811–1812 1847 CONCLUSION 1845 OPENING “THE MOUNTAINS OF EVERY CONTINENT” TRAVELS OF DAVID THOMPSON APPENDIX “THE NATIVES OF NORTH AMERICA” WATER APPENDIX I: PROSPECTUS APPENDIX 2: MOUNTAIN SKETCHES APPENDIX 3: BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES APPENDIX 4: TABLE OF NATIVE GROUPS BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX