The Journal Of John Work, A Chief-Trader Of The Hudson's Bay Co. During His Expedition From Vancouver To The Flatheads And Blackfeet Of The Pacific Northwest

WILLIAM S. AND PAUL C. PHILLIPS LEWIS

Publication: AH Clark Co, 1923, Cleveland

First edition. Blue Cloth, 209 pp. Preface. Appendix. Bibliography. Index. Illustrations. Map. John Work was arguably the most proficient explorer of the Hudson's Bay Company in the Pacific Northwest. His journals are among the most important records of the fur trade in the Northwest. His journal offers a firsthand account of his 1831 expedition through the Pacific Northwest. The journey begins at Fort Vancouver and proceeds eastward into the interior of present-day Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The journal provides descriptions of rivers, mountain ranges and plains; accounts of interactions with various Native American groups, including trade negotiations, cultural practices, and occasional tensions; challenges faced by the expedition, such as harsh weather, scarce food supplies, and the logistical difficulties of transporting trade goods and furs; and he offers insight into the methods and economic strategies used by the Hudson's Bay Company to expand and maintain its fur trade empire. "John Work's journal is one of the cornerstone works on the fur trade in the Northwest. He was one of the greatest of the Hudson's Bay Company traders, and his explorations were more extensive than those of his contemporaries, Alexander Ross and Peter Skene Ogden. This is an enduring work of value."--Clark/Brunet 316. A fine, bright copy. Protected in slipcase.