Everything about Coureurs De Bois totally explained
A
coureur des bois (runner of the woods) was an individual who engaged in the
fur trade without permission from the
French authorities. The coureurs des bois operated during the late 17th century and early 18th century in eastern
North America. Later, a limited number of permits were issued to coureurs des bois who became known as
voyageurs.
Background
During the 17th century, the fur trade was very lucrative for
New France. Competition was fierce, and many colonists risked the journey west and north through hostile
Iroquois territory from the settlements around
Montreal to the
pays d'en haut, or "upper country" (the area around the
Great Lakes) to seek out
Native trappers to trade with. These coureurs des bois were not looked upon favourably by Montreal authorities or royal officials. They disapproved of settlers leaving the developing agricultural areas to seek their fortune trading. The French authorities would rather have let the transportation of furs be handled by the natives rather than independent unregulated colonial traders, who were bringing in so many furs that the market was oversupplied. The unregulated traffic in furs also undermined Montreal's role as the focal point for the fur trade — where traders would exchange
beaver pelts for trade goods such as clothing,
muskets and copper pots. Some illicit traders also caused problems by trading
alcohol for furs.
Some coureurs des bois became famous, including
Étienne Brûlé,
Louis Joliet,
Médard des Groseilliers,
Pierre-Esprit Radisson,
Jean Nicolet,
Guillaume Couture,
Jean-Baptiste Chalifoux and
Jacques de Noyon.
Voyageurs
By 1681, the French authorities realized the traders had to be controlled so that the industry might remain profitable. They therefore legitimized and limited the numbers of coureurs des bois by establishing a system that used permits (
congés). This legitimization created a "second-generation" coureur des bois: the
voyageur, which literally means "traveller". This name change came as a result of a need for the legitimate fur traders to distance themselves from the unlicensed ones. Voyageurs held a permit or were allied with a Montreal merchant who had one.
The fur trade was thus controlled by a small number of Montreal merchants. New France also began a policy of expansion in an attempt to dominate the trade. French influence extended west, north and south. Forts and trading posts were built with the help of explorers and traders. Treaties were negotiated with native groups, and fur trading became very profitable and organized. The system became complex, and the voyageurs, many of whom had been independent traders, slowly became hired labourers.
For the most part, voyageurs were the crews hired to man the canoes that carried trade goods and supplies to "rendezvous posts" (example:
Grand Portage) where goods and supplies were exchanged for furs. The canoes traveled along well-established routes. They then transported the furs back to
Lachine near Montreal. Some voyageurs stayed in the back country over the winter and transported the trade goods from the rendezvous posts to farther-away French outposts. These men were known as the hivernants (winterers). They also helped negotiate trade in native villages. In the spring they'd carry furs from these remote outposts back to the rendezvous posts. Voyageurs also served as guides for explorers (such as
Pierre La Vérendrye). The majority of these canoe men were
French Canadian and/or
Métis. They were usually from
Island of Montreal or
seigneuries and
parishes along or near the
St. Lawrence River. Many were from
France and many were members of Native
Aboriginal tribes.
The voyageurs were highly valued employees of trading companies, such as the
North West Company (NWC) and the
Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). Because of the effectiveness of voyageurs, the NWC was able to challenge the HBC. The HBC started hiring their own voyageurs in 1815 to help them compete with the NWC.
The voyageurs are legendary, especially in French Canada. They are folk heroes celebrated in folklore and music. The reality of their lives was that of toil. For example, they'd to be able to carry two 90 pound bundles of fur over portages; more suffered from
strangulated hernias than any other injury.
Voyageurs who only paddled between Montreal and Grand Portage were known as "mangeurs de lard" (pork eaters) because of their diet, much of which consisted of salt pork. This is considered to be a derogatory term. Those who overwintered and ate "off the land" (mainly
fish,
pemmican and
Rubaboo) were called "hommes du nord" (northern men) or "hivernants" (winterers). Voyageurs were expected to work 14 hours per day and paddle at a rate of 55 strokes per minute. Few could swim. Many drowned in rapids or in storms while crossing lakes.
Portages and routes were often indicated by
lob trees, or trees that had their branches cut off just below the top of the tree.
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