| Details, Ideas and Alternatives Page 1 Back to Guidelines |
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| Details can really add to the atmoshere of camps. Many items shipped west came in plain, cheap pinewood crates like the cavendish tobacco crate seen here. Crates like these are far more authentic than the chests so often seen in most camps. It is interesting to consider how much "trade litter" may have been left after the original rendevous events broke up. Other details like marked mercantile sacks can be used to hold bulk foodstuffs. |
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| Bales or packs, were one of the most common ways trappers and traders carried things around. Furs, blankets, cloth and more could be baled up and easily lashed to pack animals. When making camp, men often piled bales, fur packs and other baggage to form a sort of breastwoork in the event of night attack. Bales like these not only make great additions to the camp, they are practical as comfortable seats around the fire. An excellent substitute for camp furniture. It should be noted that trappers often proudy refused to use chairs when visiting trade forts (folding chairs make good firewood). |
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| Trade Goods The currency among the tribes, who had no use for money. These were of use or interest with both tribes and fellow trappers. One of the most common and important items was tobacco, seen here in several forms. At lower left are "carrots" of leaf tobacco in several forms as well as twist. Plug tobacco was also sent in huge quantity, The triangular paper packet is fine cavendish. At top are seen beads in several sizes, with blue being one of the most popular colors. Below the necklace beeads is a paper pack of Chinese vermillion powder, as well as a pack of needles. |
| Other common items included jaw harps, silk ribbon, inexpensive broadcloth, brass bells from Germany or France, cowrie shells from Africa, iron arrow points, strikers and knives- both butcher and scalper. The roll seen below the cavendish is a pack of 1,000 percussion caps, 10 tins rolled and wrapped. |
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| California Shell Lamp Yes, Lewis and Clark carried tin candle lanterns in their expedition, but this has little application to the beaver trappers of the 1820s and 1830s. Nowhere has this penman found any reference to trappers using lanterns. An alternative shown here is using an abalone shell- which was known and referred to in original trading documents as a "California Shell." These are somewhat vulnerable to wind, but in most cases work very well, and focus-reflect light like a charm. A length of wire can be thread through the natural holes, and used for hanging. Thanks Steve Hill for passing along this idea! |
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| Very effective rectangular tarp shelter This uses a single large rectangular tarp and five poles. The open front is ideal for the fire. Note that a trap hangs from the apex, with the chain hanging down which can be used as a pot chain. A very good cold weather shelter. |