Exploring the Canadian Frontier -#4 (Thompson)

Journey's of David Thompson

Thompson wrote: I was obliged to take two kegs of alcohol, overruled by my partners, for I had made it a law to myself, that no alcohol should pass the mountains in my company, and thus be clear of the sad sight of drunkenness, and its many evils. But these gentlemen insisted upon alcohol being the most profitable article that could be taken for the Indian trade. In this, I knew they had miscalculated. Accordingly, when we came to the defiles of the mountains, I placed the two kegs of alcohol on a vicious horse, and by noon the kegs were empty, and in pieces, the horse rubbing his load against the rocks to get rid of it. I wrote to my partners what I had done; and that I would do the same to every keg of alcohol, and for the next six years that I had charge of the fur trade on the west side of the mountains, no further attempt was made to introduce spirituous liquors.

David Thompson was in my opinion the greatest Canadian. That was only possible because of his faith in God. Actually, he wrote this book himself, though the first 100 pages — an overview of Thompson’s life and itinerary, are by the editor, Joseph B. Tyrell. —Roelof A. Janssen

• Author: David Thompson
• Pages: 174
• Paperback
• Published in 2021