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hist_text-digest       Saturday, March 14 1998       Volume 01 : Number 037




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 17:40:36 -0500
From: paul mueller <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Capote oxymorons

David Tippets wrote:
>
> Dear Detached,
>
> Saying a capote didn't have a hood is roughly the equivalent of saying a
> horse didn't have a tail, because by definition you can't have one without
> the other.
>
> Capote is a French word that by definition means "with a hood."  The French
> word first started popping up in fur trade records written by French fur
> traders describing the hooded skin garments worn by Indians of the subarctic
> region of Canada, way back when French was the dominant language of the fur
> trade.
>
> If you look at many of the primary sources of information about trade goods
> for the Rocky Mountains, you'll see references to big overcoats made out of
> wool blankets -- in which the American and British traders didn't use the
> French word "capote" to describe the coats.   There were not then, and there
> are not now, capotes without hoods -- but there were then, and can be now,
> big wool blanket overcoats.
>
> Also, let me suggest that a capote, by definition is not necessarily a coat
> make from from a wool blanket.  It's the subcultural habits and colloquial
> vocabulary of modern-day buckskinnerss that is creating a misconception that
> capotes are blanket coats.
>
> Capotes can be made from blankets, but don't have to be made from blankets.
> However, if they are a capote they do have to have a hood.   The hood could
> be detachable, but when it's detached you don't have a capote.  It's much
> like a stallion; by definition the stallion has testicles, and once they are
> detached you no longer have a stallion -- you have a gelding -- not a
> stallion with detachable testicles.
>
> To take this strain of thought a step further, mountain men weren't beaver
> trappers with detachable capotes.  You don't by definition have to have a
> copote if you are a mountain man, but you do by definition have to have
> testicles.  So if a modern mountain man is inclined to prefer a large
> overcoat with no hood, let him have the courage to defy the modern cultural
> norms of behavior and venture forth to rendezvous capoteless.
>
> Hope this really clears things up.
>
> Dave T.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Basha Richey <[e-mail]>
> To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
> Cc: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
> Date: Monday, March 09, 1998 4:48 PM
> Subject: MtMan-List: Sack hats
>
> >Longtrail,
> >    Nice link for reproduction fabrics.   Patchworks, is going on my
> >favorite list.  I was particularly intrested in the indigo material.
> >    Wes Housler had a nice period piece at the RMNR last year in Montana.
> >It was a cap made from a scrap of wool, essentially a bag with exagerated
> >corners (to resemble ears) with one side cut out for his face.  There are
> >many examples in Alfred Jacob Millers artwork of this type of headgear. The
> >one that comes to mind,  is the oil painting of the "Trappers Bride".  Two
> >of the trappers in the background are wearing "sacks".  It seems to me,
> >that if you didn't have a hat, that one of these simple creations would be
> >a good substitute.  Miller also shows hunters using them to approach game,
> >on all-fours, as camoflodge.  In the AJM painting titled "Trappers and
> >horses around a fire" used as an illustration in Ruxtons "Life In The Far
> >West"(edited by Hafen) is a trapper wearing a "sack" made with a checked or
> >crossed, striped  pattern.  Since the bags were made out of anything that
> >was available (my opinion) then a piece if the woven Indigo from patchworks
> >might be a nice piece of material for a reproduction of that trappers "Sky
> >Piece".
> >     I believe Paul Mueller said in a recent link, that hoods were not
> >attached to capotes, rather were buttoned or tied on.  Am I wrong about the
> >"sacks" or were they hoods for Capotes?  Miller's paintings have few, if
> >any capotes, but it was summertime.  If anybody would like to shed light on
> >the origins of the "sacks", I would be glad to hear it.
> >
> >John Richey
> >"Yellow Stone"
> >
> >
  a little piece about capotes or capots by francis back titled
 THE CANADIAN CAPOT (CAPOTE)
   In 1803 a french traveller provided an apologetic but accurate
descrition of the blanket capot "all the inhabitants... and their slaves
have capots for winter time. this capote is made of a single blanket and
is loose enough to look like our greatcoat: their is no seem on the
back;they have simply cut on the blankets length enough cloth to make
the sleeves, the collar or the hood: around the skirt is a blue
stripe,and at the extremity of the sleeves is another blue stripe placed
there to look like a cuff.The negroes instead of having a collar have a
hood as those of our charteux or trappist monks... the masters capots
differ because they are a little bit fuller ,made of a finer cloth and
without hoods. this came from a french man in 1803 a capot without a
hood but a collar. they used the word wrong then as we do today.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 17:26:04 -0700
From: "David Tippets" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re: Beaver Traps

Terry Montgomery, owner and operator of Montgomery Fur here in Ogden, Utah
is the manufacturer of the Bridger trap line, including the Bridger #5 that
you refer to.

Some of us here in the area who trap beaver mountain man style have been
talking to Terry about making some optional modifications to the Bridger #5
to make it look a little more like the Hudson Bay Company beaver traps and
the old Newhouse traps.  Terry could custom make them now, but the price
would wind up almost as much as the cost of contemporary hand-forged traps.

To keep the cost within reason for mountain men who want to by a half dozen
to actually go trap beaver with, we'll probably have to compromise a one
design point -- the jaw posts.  Other than that, we can probably just switch
some components and have trap that look pretty close to the Hudson Bay
Company traps.

You can make most of the modifications yourself, if you have a mind to.

Dave Tippets

- -----Original Message-----
From: Dave Parks <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Date: Thursday, March 12, 1998 8:19 AM
Subject: MtMan-List: Re: Beaver Traps


>Howdy Lee,
>
>      Glad you got to visit Moscow Hide & Fur, I hope you got to talk
>with Gary Schroeder the owner. He's a really knowledgeable guy. I've had
>the pleasure of meeting him at some of the fur sales. He writes the "Fur
>Markets" department for Fur, Fish & Game Magazine.
>      As to your questions, I certainly think that #4 Newhouses in
>decent condition for $17.50 are a good buy. The #4 1/2 you mention at a
>much higher figure were what Newhouse called their "Wolf Trap". It came
>with six feet of heavy chain with a heavy swivel at the trap, another
>one halfway down the chain and a heavy two prong steel drag on the end
>of the chain. They tend to bring high dollars today, even for being a
>commonly used trap up until 30 years ago. I have one left in my
>collection.
>      The Triumphs have not been made for many years and are a good
>quality trap. At $10.00 each, I suggest you don't pass them up. As I
>remember, Triumphs traps go back into the mid-twenties or early 1930's.
>The man to ask in detail about these and any antique trap is my old
>friend Bill Foreyt, Route 2 Box 56, Colfax, WA. [phone], Bill is
>a great guy and has an extensive collection of traps. Just a few years
>ago, he told me that original fur trade era beaver traps were scarce in
>any condition and a rough one would bring $150.00 and up......if you
>could get one of the trap collectors to part with one. He's still
>looking for one for me. About 12 years ago I sold him one of the rarest
>traps in his collection.....but that's another story.
>      As far as your question of "How close in size, shape and weight
>are the Newhouses and Triumphs in relation to traps of the 1800's?" A
>close look at trap "D", figure 26 on page 121 of Carl P. Russell's book
>"Firearms, Traps & Tools of the Mountain Men" (fifth printing,
>University of New Mexico Press, 1983 Lib. of Congress Cat. Card #
>77-81984) will show you just how close the Newhouse is to the originals.
>Even if you found an original beaver trap of the 1820's on the banks of
>Horse Creek in Wyoming.....it would be representive of that particular
>trap maker and not all of the beaver traps used during this period.
>Individual blacksmiths made traps that were of a design they had grown
>up with and knew or a design they had seen by another blacksmith and
>prefered to use.
>      The common thread that pretty much keeps this period beaver size
>traps the same, is the use of the "jaw post" that held the trap jaws.
>The ends of the jaws were pinned and hinged on these posts. This design
>goes back to England and Europe. As for the weight of fur period traps,
>they varied from 2 to 5 lbs. The base of trap "C" on pg. 121 of
>Russell's book is very strange compared to others. It has a double base
>rarely seen in these type of traps. Stranger yet, it was found in 1903
>at an Indians grave here on the Rogue River (near me) in S/W Oregon.
>It's weight is only 2 1/2 lbs, even with a double base!
>      The piece of wood you mentioned, is a piece of 1/2"X10"X10"
>plywood that I carry to set coilspring traps with. The U-Stick you
>mention is, I assume the pair of sticks tied together at one end with
>leather strap and is used to "pinch" or depress the traps longsprings
>for ease of setting the big traps. I have never bothered with them,
>first of all, it would take two sets of them to set both springs unless
>you made a device to hold one spring depressed while you depressed the
>other spring. Bear traps came with big "C" clamps that were made to set
>these huge traps. It was also the LAW that when setting a bear trap, you
>were required to wire the c-clamps to the trap...incase a man stepped
>into it. At least he would have the means to get his fractured leg out
>of the trap! How he would walk back home is questionable? I set my #4
>longsprings by breaking them over my knee in a quick downward thrust.
>While holding the springs depressed, I flip the dog over the jaw and
>slip it into the notch in the pan with my thumbs. It's easy to do after
>a little practice.
>      Lee, another good deal is to look into some of the Bridger #5's.
>They have a 7 1/2" jaw spread and are as tough as nails.They are
>available from:         R-P Outdoors
>                        505 Polk St. /P.O. Box 1170
>                        Mansfield, LA. 71052
>                        1-800-762-2706
>
>      They offer the Bridger #5 for $22.99 each, which is about the
>going
>rate for them. Let me know how you do on your selection. I'm glad to
>help anytime I can.
>                           Regards, _M_  Manywounds
>                                     W
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 17:55:07 -0800 (PST)
From: Lee Newbill <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re: Beaver Traps

Good Day,

Manywounds did spaketh;
>       As to your questions, I certainly think that #4 Newhouses in
> decent condition for $17.50 are a good buy.
>       The Triumphs have not been made for many years and are a good
> quality trap. At $10.00 each, I suggest you don't pass them up.

In this business, if you snooze, you loose.  Tragically, from the time I
sent the email out, until Dave replied, Moscow Hide and Fur sold out every
#4 they had.  Not so much as a newly minted Victor left.

>       As far as your question of "How close in size, shape and weight
> are the Newhouses and Triumphs in relation to traps of the 1800's?"

Got my copy of Russell's book today.  I had forgotten that standardization
didn't come till much later, and every smith was his own factory.  Looks
like everything from very round to square jaws was made, so I shouldna be
to far off to put some modern double longs in my gear.  Can't afford the
hand forged stuff... yet :)

>       Lee, another good deal is to look into some of the Bridger #5's.
> They have a 7 1/2" jaw spread and are as tough as nails.They are
> available from:         R-P Outdoors
>                         505 Polk St. /P.O. Box 1170
>                         Mansfield, LA. 71052
>                         1-800-762-2706

The #5's aren't too big?  I'll give 'em a call and see what they got.

Regards

Lee Newbill
Viola, Idaho
email at [e-mail]
Keeper of the "Buckskins & Blackpowder" Webpage
http://www.uidaho.edu/~lnewbill/bp.html

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 03:27:49 -0800 (PST)
From: Lee Newbill <[e-mail]>
Subject: MtMan-List: Camp Gear, Tents & Cookware

Hallo!

Looking for a good source of info on tents and on cookware.

Question 1.

Tentage.  I've been a little disheartned by the lack of description of
tents in the documents I've read... they talk about 'em a lot, but don't
generally describe 'em.  I was looking to buy a Baker, but can't find
anything to support it existed in 1810 in the HBC/NWC territory.  As an
alternative, I am now looking at going with just a square of canvas, as I
know Mike Katona travels with.  Question is, just how big is your square,
and if you had to buy it again today, how big would ya buy it?

Question 2.

Cookware.  I am torn between a small cast iron kettle (5 quarts) and a tin
"corn boiler".  Logic sez the boiler is probably more appropriate for the
mounted traveler, but what is a good source to find it in, and what do
ya'll carry?  And... what about these folding frying pans I see
everywhere, is there documentation for these?

Regards

Lee Newbill
Viola, Idaho
email at [e-mail]
Keeper of the "Buckskins & Blackpowder" Webpage
http://www.uidaho.edu/~lnewbill/bp.html

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 09:03:11 -0700
From: [e-mail] (Angela Gottfred)
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Capote oxymorons

I only have time for a quick response to this thread--I'll send some details
next week.

1. Hoodless capots : Yes, there were hoodless capots. It's not an oxymoron
any more than a green blackboard is an oxymoron. Words change their meanings
through time. My working definition of a capot, after studying numerous
journal entries and other writings describing capots, and looking at
pre-1821 pictures of voyageurs, is that a capot of this time period was an
overcoat made from blankets or heavy cloth, which closed with a sash and
sometimes a toggle at the neck. It was usually knee-length, with full-length
sleeves that fit closely at the wrist (_not_ hanging down in big open cuffs
that let in the cold). Hoods were often, but not always, part of a capot.
I've found nothing suggesting that voyageur capots had fringes on them, or
tassels on the hood. (Some Native capots of this period, however, did have
quill-wrapped fringes.)

How do folks pronounce 'capote'? I checked a dictionary of Quebec French,
and found that 'capot' (pronounced cap-oh) and 'capote' (pronounced cap-oat)
both mean 'overcoat' in modern Quebec usage. The word capote' (cap-oh-tay)
means crazy. I've heard some people say 'cap-oaty'; is this from Spanish, or
just a rendezvous thing?

2. Effigy hoods/square hoods : the square hood someone described earlier
sounds a lot like the Cree women's hoods of the Canadian fur trade during my
pre-1821 period (other nations wore them too). I'll post a couple of
descriptions of these hoods next week.

Your humble & obedient servant,
Angela Gottfred
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 14:21:14 -0700
From: "David Tippets" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Capote oxymorons

Angela,

When you get time to sharing your information on capotes, it would be
interesting to see what period first-source references you have that: First,
use the word capote, and second, use the word capote to describe a coat
without a hood.

Contemporary use of the word "capote" is part of the problem we face in
trying to achieve a understanding of winter overcoats commonly used in the
fur trade period.  Wouldn't it be more productive if serious scholars of the
fur trade, such as yourself, tried to determine the period use of the word
rather than adopting contempory popular use of the word?  The last couple of
years I've been really trying to attention to occurances of the word
"capote" in journals and trade ledgers kept by Americans in the Rocky
Mountains.

Though I haven't quantified and crunched the numbers, it's my impression
that folks in the Central Rockies were just as likely to refer to coats as
frocks, overcoats, tunnics, etc. as they were to call them capotes.  Since
you have looked at more NWC records than most of us -- you might give us
some idea if the use of the word "capote" is more common amongst the
Montreal-based traders, for whom French was the most common language.

It would also be interesting to learn where you got your information about
how capotes usually closed and fastened.  If you look at the four examples
recorded by James Hanson and Kathryn Wilson in volumes 1 and 2 of the
Mountain Man's Sketch Book, you'll see that every example that they
documented was double breasted, having from 8 to 10 buttons.

One of the four capotes in the sketchbook seems to have much more open cuffs
on the sleeves than the other three.  Either style and size of cuff works if
it's properly mated to the styles of shirt cuffs and mitten gauntlets that
are used with it.  A narrow sleeve opening commits you to use the
plunge-style mits common amongst the natives fo arctic and subarctic.  The
big open-style cuff would be more of a concern if worn with modern shirts
and sweaters, but if you wear them with two period shirts with the big
gathered sleeves you find the capote's sleeve openings are pretty
effectively plugged with excess shirt fabric.  The big open sleeve is also
the design best matched to use with the style of Canadian mittens shown on
page 17, of Sketchbook 2, because the sleeve  easily slips over and
completely overlaps the wrist area -- compensating for the absence of
guantlets on the mittens.

I'll try to get the money in the mail today for a subscription to Northwest
Journal.  Has the issue with your capote article already gone to press?

Dave




- -----Original Message-----
From: Angela Gottfred <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Date: Friday, March 13, 1998 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Capote oxymorons


>I only have time for a quick response to this thread--I'll send some
details
>next week.
>
>1. Hoodless capots : Yes, there were hoodless capots. It's not an oxymoron
>any more than a green blackboard is an oxymoron. Words change their
meanings
>through time. My working definition of a capot, after studying numerous
>journal entries and other writings describing capots, and looking at
>pre-1821 pictures of voyageurs, is that a capot of this time period was an
>overcoat made from blankets or heavy cloth, which closed with a sash and
>sometimes a toggle at the neck. It was usually knee-length, with
full-length
>sleeves that fit closely at the wrist (_not_ hanging down in big open cuffs
>that let in the cold). Hoods were often, but not always, part of a capot.
>I've found nothing suggesting that voyageur capots had fringes on them, or
>tassels on the hood. (Some Native capots of this period, however, did have
>quill-wrapped fringes.)
>
>How do folks pronounce 'capote'? I checked a dictionary of Quebec French,
>and found that 'capot' (pronounced cap-oh) and 'capote' (pronounced
cap-oat)
>both mean 'overcoat' in modern Quebec usage. The word capote' (cap-oh-tay)
>means crazy. I've heard some people say 'cap-oaty'; is this from Spanish,
or
>just a rendezvous thing?
>
>2. Effigy hoods/square hoods : the square hood someone described earlier
>sounds a lot like the Cree women's hoods of the Canadian fur trade during
my
>pre-1821 period (other nations wore them too). I'll post a couple of
>descriptions of these hoods next week.
>
>Your humble & obedient servant,
>Angela Gottfred
>[e-mail]
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 22:06:38 EST
From: ThisOldFox <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Camp Gear, Tents & Cookware

Lee writes:

> Cookware.  I am torn between a small cast iron kettle (5 quarts) and a tin
>  "corn boiler".  Logic sez the boiler is probably more appropriate for the
>  mounted traveler, but what is a good source to find it in, and what do
>  ya'll carry?  And... what about these folding frying pans I see
>  everywhere, is there documentation for these?

Lee,

Check out Peter Goebel's site, Goose Bay Workshops.  He makes an early and a
late style tinned copper boiler and they have to be the BEST available.  Buck
Conner of Clark & Sons Mercantile sells them.  They are probably more durable
than the tin boilers and will last a lot longer.  They heat up quick and hold
the heat, unlike tin which tends to cool rather quickly.  If you are really
hooked on tin, I just added a couple of tinsmiths to the Sutler's Page.  All
the links should be there.

The hammered sheet steel fry pans are used extensively back east by many
trekkers and are much lighter to carry than cast iron.  Both the copper boiler
and the skillet are the only metal I carry in my haversack.

OldFox
Dave Kanger

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 00:54:14 EST
From: RR1LA <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Camp Gear, Tents & Cookware

Dear Lee, This pilgrim can't answer your question about tent documentation,
but can say that I've camped in a number of squares (diamond flys), and
although an 8 footer was ok for one in a primitive situation, there was no
headroom; a 12 footer slept two comfy with gear outside the fly, and a 16
footer slept two real comfy, room for the gear down the middle and room to
stand up inside, outta the weather.  I'll leave the responses about Bakers' to
others, but I hear you wont find any documentation about them, cuz they
weren't there at the time you mention.

As far as I can tell about cookware, a cast iron kettle, although weighty,
allows you to keep a 'stew' going for days as you add stuff to it.  The light-
weight corn boiler serves many useful purposes;  combined with a 'squirrel
cooker' for your meat and you're in business.   Folding frying pans seem to be
a happy medium, and are available from The Mountain Forge, High Point NC (910)
454-4366 and as they advertise, they are  documented, from "Grants Pouch"
book, pg 197"

Hoping this give you some 'food for thought'.       YMHOS,           PJ

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 06:32:05 -0800 (PST)
From: zaslow <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Camp Gear, Tents & Cookware

Lee,

With regard to tents, look at the Miller paintings.  There are many wedge
tents documented in them and also the square pieces of canvas (or blankets)
used as a shelter.  I use a square piece of canvas that is 10' X 10' and it
is more than sufficient for 1 person and a lot of gear or even 2 people.

With regard to the cookware.  I personally don't like cast iron; too heavy.
I carry a corn boiler of the type you speak (although I have never found
exact documentation) and another pot like in the picture on page 26 of "The
1837 Sketchbook of the Western Fur Trade" by Rex Alen Norman (very good
reference.)  I also have a small folding frying pan which I sometimes carry.
I know I have seen documentation on it, but can't remember where.  (I think
it might have been in the Fur Trade Quarterly.)  Also, speaking of the Fur
Trade Quarterly, I heard that in one of the last couple of issues, there was
a great article on tinware.  Unfortunately, I got my renewal and need to
send it in so I can continue getting the Fur Trade Quarterly (and this article.)

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Jerry (Meriwether) Zaslow #1488
________________________________________________________________________________
At 03:27 AM 3/13/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Hallo!
>
>Looking for a good source of info on tents and on cookware.
>
>Question 1.
>
>Tentage.  I've been a little disheartned by the lack of description of
>tents in the documents I've read... they talk about 'em a lot, but don't
>generally describe 'em.  I was looking to buy a Baker, but can't find
>anything to support it existed in 1810 in the HBC/NWC territory.  As an
>alternative, I am now looking at going with just a square of canvas, as I
>know Mike Katona travels with.  Question is, just how big is your square,
>and if you had to buy it again today, how big would ya buy it?
>
>Question 2.
>
>Cookware.  I am torn between a small cast iron kettle (5 quarts) and a tin
>"corn boiler".  Logic sez the boiler is probably more appropriate for the
>mounted traveler, but what is a good source to find it in, and what do
>ya'll carry?  And... what about these folding frying pans I see
>everywhere, is there documentation for these?
>
>Regards
>
>Lee Newbill
>Viola, Idaho
>email at [e-mail]
>Keeper of the "Buckskins & Blackpowder" Webpage
>http://www.uidaho.edu/~lnewbill/bp.html
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 06:56:51 -0800 (PST)
From: zaslow <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Capote oxymorons

David,

I think I get it.  If you are a mountaineer that has a capote without hood,
then you have no testicles and become a mountain gelding.

Boy, am I glad my capote has a hood!!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.  It really is a good piece of research.

Best Regards,

Jerry (Meriwether) Zaslow #1488

>However, if they are a capote they do have to have a hood.   The hood could
>be detachable, but when it's detached you don't have a capote.  It's much
>like a stallion; by definition the stallion has testicles, and once they are
>detached you no longer have a stallion -- you have a gelding -- not a
>stallion with detachable testicles.
>
>To take this strain of thought a step further, mountain men weren't beaver
>trappers with detachable capotes.  You don't by definition have to have a
>copote if you are a mountain man, but you do by definition have to have
>testicles.  So if a modern mountain man is inclined to prefer a large
>overcoat with no hood, let him have the courage to defy the modern cultural
>norms of behavior and venture forth to rendezvous capoteless.
>
>Hope this really clears things up.
>
>Dave T.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Basha Richey <[e-mail]>
>To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
>Cc: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
>Date: Monday, March 09, 1998 4:48 PM
>Subject: MtMan-List: Sack hats
>
>
>>Longtrail,
>>    Nice link for reproduction fabrics.   Patchworks, is going on my
>>favorite list.  I was particularly intrested in the indigo material.
>>    Wes Housler had a nice period piece at the RMNR last year in Montana.
>>It was a cap made from a scrap of wool, essentially a bag with exagerated
>>corners (to resemble ears) with one side cut out for his face.  There are
>>many examples in Alfred Jacob Millers artwork of this type of headgear. The
>>one that comes to mind,  is the oil painting of the "Trappers Bride".  Two
>>of the trappers in the background are wearing "sacks".  It seems to me,
>>that if you didn't have a hat, that one of these simple creations would be
>>a good substitute.  Miller also shows hunters using them to approach game,
>>on all-fours, as camoflodge.  In the AJM painting titled "Trappers and
>>horses around a fire" used as an illustration in Ruxtons "Life In The Far
>>West"(edited by Hafen) is a trapper wearing a "sack" made with a checked or
>>crossed, striped  pattern.  Since the bags were made out of anything that
>>was available (my opinion) then a piece if the woven Indigo from patchworks
>>might be a nice piece of material for a reproduction of that trappers "Sky
>>Piece".
>>     I believe Paul Mueller said in a recent link, that hoods were not
>>attached to capotes, rather were buttoned or tied on.  Am I wrong about the
>>"sacks" or were they hoods for Capotes?  Miller's paintings have few, if
>>any capotes, but it was summertime.  If anybody would like to shed light on
>>the origins of the "sacks", I would be glad to hear it.
>>
>>John Richey
>>"Yellow Stone"
>>
>>
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 11:08:53 EST
From: Traphand <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Camp Gear, Tents & Cookware

LEE on the fring pan,a photo of it is in THE KENTUCKY RIFLE HUNTING POUCH BY
MADISON GRANT,PAGE197 it is called it the book a mass kit .this mass kit was
used throughout the revoluionary war by a man from berk county,penn.made of
wrought iron 61/4in diameterand 21/4 deep .
r                                    traphand

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 18:19:04 EST
From: LODGEPOLE <[e-mail]>
Subject: MtMan-List: Goose Bay Workshops

Before everyone starts asking, Goose Bay Workshops:

                  http://www.teleport.com/~walking/goosebay/

------------------------------

End of hist_text-digest V1 #37
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