A Visit to the Great Camp on the Plains
Draft: this translation has not yet been checked against the original by a separate review.
- Written
- October 13–16, 1754 (journal kept 1754–1755; this copy made later at York Fort)
- Place
- The great Archithinue camp
- Language
- English
- Kind of source
- journal
- Reading time
- 5 minutes
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
Northern PlainsFirst contact in the AmericasTrade and markets
The leader received his visitor seated on a white buffalo skin, with twenty elders around him. Pipes went around the lodge in silence before anyone spoke. Only then did the Englishman's guide explain why he had come.
Anthony Henday was a laborer and net-maker for the Hudson's Bay Company at York Fort, on Hudson Bay. In June 1754 he went inland with a party of Cree who had come down to trade. His task was to persuade the peoples of the far western plains to bring their furs to the bay. In mid-October, on the plains of what is now central Alberta, his party reached a great camp of the people the company called Archithinue. This passage covers his first three days there.
Henday could not speak the leader's language. Everything he says about the talk came through his Cree companions and an interpreter, and he was a guest who understood the camp only from outside. He did not know which neighbors these people fought, or why, beyond what he was told.
Henday's own journal is lost. Four later copies survive in the company's archives, and they contradict one another on some points. One copy left out his Cree companion, whom he called only his “bed-fellow.” This text comes from a copy made years later by Andrew Graham, an officer at York Fort who knew Henday. Some details, such as the number of buffalo tongues, differ between copies.
Watch how much of the meeting is ceremony: smoke, food, gifts, silence. Notice too the leader's answer about canoes and fish, and Henday's verdict on it.
The edited translation, in simplified modern English. Bracketed words were added for clarity; [...] marks a cut. Tap a note number to read the note.
13. Sunday. Traveled 7 miles southwest by west. Level land, and strips of woods, and numbers of buffalo. The Indians killed a great many. In the evening we were joined by 7 Archithinue1 natives on horseback, who told us we would see the Great Leader, and numbers of Archithinue natives, tomorrow.
14. Monday. Traveled 4 miles southwest by west. Then four men on horseback came to us. They told us they had been sent from the main body to see whether we were friends or enemies. We told them we were friends. Attickasish, Canawappaw, Cokamanakisish,2 and the other of our leaders walked in front, about 4 miles farther than we. We came to 200 tents of Archithinue natives, pitched in two rows with an opening in the middle. There we were led to the leader's tent, which was at one end, large enough to hold fifty people. He received us seated on a clear (white) buffalo skin,3 attended by 20 elderly men. He made signs for me to sit down at his right hand, which I did. Our leader set out several grand pipes, and they smoked all round, according to their usual custom. Not a word was yet spoken on either side. When the smoking was over, boiled buffalo meat was served round in baskets of a kind of grass, and I was presented with 10 buffalo tongues. Attickasish, my guide, told him I had been sent by the Great Leader who lives down at the great waters,4 to invite his young men down to see him. They were to bring beaver skins and wolf skins with them. In return they would get powder, shot, guns, cloth, beads, and so on. He made little answer. He only said that it was far off, and they could not paddle. Then they talked of other matters until we were told to go to our tents, which were pitched a full quarter of a mile outside their lines.
15. Tuesday. It froze a little last night. Our women were busy dressing beaver skins for clothing. About 10 o'clock in the morning I was invited to the Archithinue leader's tent. There, through an interpreter, I told him what I had been sent for. I asked him to allow some of his young men to go down to the fort with me, where they would be kindly received and get guns and so on. But he answered that it was far off, and they could not live without buffalo meat, and that they could not leave their horses, and so on. He gave many other obstacles, though all might be overcome if they knew how to use a canoe and could eat fish, which they never do. The chief further said that they never lacked food, as they followed the buffalo and killed them with bows and arrows. And he had been told that the natives who went to the settlements were often starving on their journey. Such remarks I thought exceedingly true. He made me a present of a handsome bow and arrows, and in return I gave him a part of each kind of goods I had, as Mr. Isham's5 written instructions ordered. I left and took a look at the camp. Their tents were pitched close to one another in two regular lines, which formed a broad street open at both ends. Their horses are turned out to graze with their legs hobbled. When they are wanted, they are tied to lines cut from buffalo skin, which stretch along and are fastened to stakes driven into the ground. They have hair halters, buffalo-skin pads, and stirrups of the same. The horses are fine, gentle animals, about 14 hands high, lively and well made. The natives are good horsemen and kill the buffalo on horseback. These natives are dressed much the same as others, but are cleaner and livelier. They think nothing of my tobacco, and I set as little value on theirs, which is dried horse dung.6 They appear to be well disciplined and obedient to their leader, who orders a party of horsemen to scout evening and morning, and proper parties to bring in provisions. They have other native horsemen, as well as men on foot, who are their enemies. These are also called Archithinue Indians, and from what I can learn, they talk the same language and have the same customs. They are, like the other natives, murdering one another slyly. I saw many fine girls who were captives, and a great many dried scalps with fine long black hair, displayed on poles and in front of the leader's tent. They follow the buffalo from place to place, and so that the enemy cannot surprise them, they camp in open plains. Their fuel is turf and dried horse dung. Their clothing is finely painted with red paint, like English ochre, but they do not mark or paint their bodies. I saw four asses.7
16. Wednesday. The women were busy as yesterday. With the leader's permission, I rode hunting with twenty of his young men. They killed 8 buffalo; excellent sport. They are so skilled that with one or two arrows they will bring down a buffalo. As for me, I had enough to do to manage my horse. When I came home, I was invited to the leader's tent again, where all the Asinepoet8 leaders were. I thought it very curious, as there were four different languages among us. The leader gave orders for us to move camp away from him, and said that we would see him again in the spring, when they came down after the buffalo. He gave one of the leaders two young slaves as a present, and 40 buffalo tongues. They were both girls.
Notes
- The name Hudson's Bay Company men used, vaguely, for the horse-riding peoples of the far western plains. Historians disagree whether this camp was Siksika (Blackfoot) or Atsina (Gros Ventre). back
- Leaders of Henday's traveling party. Attickasish, his guide, was the party's Cree leader. back
- A rare white buffalo hide. Plains peoples prized such hides highly and often offered them as sacred gifts. back
- The chief of York Fort, on Hudson Bay, the Hudson's Bay Company post from which Henday set out. back
- James Isham, the chief at York Fort, who sent Henday inland with goods to give as presents. back
- Burpee doubted this. The plains peoples grew and smoked their own tobacco, and Henday may have mistaken what they used. back
- Probably donkeys or mules. Horses had come to the plains from the Spanish settlements far to the south, passed north from people to people. back
- The Assiniboine (Nakoda), a plains people. Several of their bands had joined Henday's party on the way. back
13. Sunday. Travelled 7 Miles S.W.b.W. Level land, and ledges of woods; and numbers of Buffalo. Indians killed a great many. In the evening we were joined by 7 Archithinue Natives on Horse-back, who informed us we should see the Great Leader, & numbers of Archithinue Natives to-morrow.
13. Sunday. Traveled 7 miles southwest by west. Level land, and strips of woods, and numbers of buffalo. The Indians killed a great many. In the evening we were joined by 7 Archithinue natives on horseback, who told us we would see the Great Leader, and numbers of Archithinue natives, tomorrow.
- The name Hudson's Bay Company men used, vaguely, for the horse-riding peoples of the far western plains. Historians disagree whether this camp was Siksika (Blackfoot) or Atsina (Gros Ventre).
14. Monday. Travelled 4 Miles S.W.b.W. Then came to us four men on Horse-back; they told us they were sent from the main body to see whether we were Friends or Enemies. We told them we were Friends. Attickasish, Canawappaw, Cokamanakisish, and the other of our Leaders walked in front about 4 Miles farther then we; came to 200 tents of Archithinue Natives, pitched in two rows, and an opening in the middle; where we were conducted to the Leader's tent; which was at one end, large enough to contain fifty persons; where he received us seated on a clear (white) Buffalo skin, attended by 20 elderly men.
14. Monday. Traveled 4 miles southwest by west. Then four men on horseback came to us. They told us they had been sent from the main body to see whether we were friends or enemies. We told them we were friends. Attickasish, Canawappaw, Cokamanakisish, and the other of our leaders walked in front, about 4 miles farther than we. We came to 200 tents of Archithinue natives, pitched in two rows with an opening in the middle. There we were led to the leader's tent, which was at one end, large enough to hold fifty people. He received us seated on a clear (white) buffalo skin, attended by 20 elderly men.
- Leaders of Henday's traveling party. Attickasish, his guide, was the party's Cree leader.
- A rare white buffalo hide. Plains peoples prized such hides highly and often offered them as sacred gifts.
He made signs for me to sit down on his right hand: which I did. Our Leader set on several grand-pipes, and smoked all round, according to their usual custom: not a word was yet spoke on either side. Smoking being over, Buffalo flesh boiled was served round in baskets of a species of bent, and I was presented with 10 Buffalo tongues. Attickasish my Guide, informed him I was sent by the Great Leader who lives down at the great waters, to invite his young men down to see him and to bring with them Beaver skins, & Wolves skins: & they would get in return Powder, Shot, Guns, Cloth, Beads, &c. He made little answer: only said that it was far off, & they could not paddle. Then they entered upon indifferent subjects until we were ordered to depart to our tents, which were pitched about a full quarter of a Mile without their lines.
He made signs for me to sit down at his right hand, which I did. Our leader set out several grand pipes, and they smoked all round, according to their usual custom. Not a word was yet spoken on either side. When the smoking was over, boiled buffalo meat was served round in baskets of a kind of grass, and I was presented with 10 buffalo tongues. Attickasish, my guide, told him I had been sent by the Great Leader who lives down at the great waters, to invite his young men down to see him. They were to bring beaver skins and wolf skins with them. In return they would get powder, shot, guns, cloth, beads, and so on. He made little answer. He only said that it was far off, and they could not paddle. Then they talked of other matters until we were told to go to our tents, which were pitched a full quarter of a mile outside their lines.
- The chief of York Fort, on Hudson Bay, the Hudson's Bay Company post from which Henday set out.
15. Tuesday. Froze a little last night. Our women employed dressing Beaver skins for cloathing. About 10 o'clock A.M. I was invited to the Archithinue Leader's tent: when by an interpreter I told him what I was sent for, & desired of him to allow some of his young men to go down to the Fort with me, where they would be kindly received, and get Guns &c. But he answered, it was far off, & they could not live without Buffalo flesh; and that they could not leave their horses &c: and many other obstacles, though all might be got over if they were acquainted with a Canoe, and could eat Fish, which they never do. The Chief further said they never wanted food, as they followed the Buffalo & killed them with the Bows and Arrows; and he was informed the Natives that frequented the Settlements, were oftentimes starved on their journey. Such remarks I thought exceeding true.
15. Tuesday. It froze a little last night. Our women were busy dressing beaver skins for clothing. About 10 o'clock in the morning I was invited to the Archithinue leader's tent. There, through an interpreter, I told him what I had been sent for. I asked him to allow some of his young men to go down to the fort with me, where they would be kindly received and get guns and so on. But he answered that it was far off, and they could not live without buffalo meat, and that they could not leave their horses, and so on. He gave many other obstacles, though all might be overcome if they knew how to use a canoe and could eat fish, which they never do. The chief further said that they never lacked food, as they followed the buffalo and killed them with bows and arrows. And he had been told that the natives who went to the settlements were often starving on their journey. Such remarks I thought exceedingly true.
He made me a present of a handsome Bow & Arrows, & in return I gave him a part of each kinds of goods I had, as ordered by Mr. Isham's written instructions. I departed and took a view of the camp. Their tents were pitched close to one another in two regular lines, which formed a broad street open at both ends. Their horses are turned out to grass, their legs being fettered: and when wanted, are fastened to lines cut of Buffalo skin, that stretches along & is fastened to stakes drove in the ground. They have hair halters, Buffalo skin pads, & stirrups of the same. The horses are fine tractible animals, about 14 hands high; lively and clean made. The Natives are good Horsemen, & kill the Buffalo on them.
He made me a present of a handsome bow and arrows, and in return I gave him a part of each kind of goods I had, as Mr. Isham's written instructions ordered. I left and took a look at the camp. Their tents were pitched close to one another in two regular lines, which formed a broad street open at both ends. Their horses are turned out to graze with their legs hobbled. When they are wanted, they are tied to lines cut from buffalo skin, which stretch along and are fastened to stakes driven into the ground. They have hair halters, buffalo-skin pads, and stirrups of the same. The horses are fine, gentle animals, about 14 hands high, lively and well made. The natives are good horsemen and kill the buffalo on horseback.
- James Isham, the chief at York Fort, who sent Henday inland with goods to give as presents.
These Natives are drest much the same as others; but more clean & sprightly. They think nothing of my tobacco; & I set as little value on theirs: which is dryed Horse-dung. They appear to be under proper discipline, & obedient to their Leader: who orders a party of Horsemen Evening & Morning to reconitre; and proper parties to bring in provisions. They have other Natives Horsemen as well as Foot, who are their Enemies: they are also called the Archithinue Indians: & by what I can learn talk the same language, & hath the same customs. They are, like the other Natives murthering one another slyly.
These natives are dressed much the same as others, but are cleaner and livelier. They think nothing of my tobacco, and I set as little value on theirs, which is dried horse dung. They appear to be well disciplined and obedient to their leader, who orders a party of horsemen to scout evening and morning, and proper parties to bring in provisions. They have other native horsemen, as well as men on foot, who are their enemies. These are also called Archithinue Indians, and from what I can learn, they talk the same language and have the same customs. They are, like the other natives, murdering one another slyly.
- Burpee doubted this. The plains peoples grew and smoked their own tobacco, and Henday may have mistaken what they used.
Saw many fine Girls who were Captives; & a great many dried Scalps with fine long black hair, displayed on poles, & before the Leader's tent. They follow the Buffalo from place to place: & that they should not be surprised by the Enemy, encamp in open plains. Their fuel is turf, & Horse-dung dryed; their cloathing is finely painted with red paint; like unto English Ochre: but they do not mark nor paint their bodies. Saw four Asses.
I saw many fine girls who were captives, and a great many dried scalps with fine long black hair, displayed on poles and in front of the leader's tent. They follow the buffalo from place to place, and so that the enemy cannot surprise them, they camp in open plains. Their fuel is turf and dried horse dung. Their clothing is finely painted with red paint, like English ochre, but they do not mark or paint their bodies. I saw four asses.
- Probably donkeys or mules. Horses had come to the plains from the Spanish settlements far to the south, passed north from people to people.
16. Wednesday. Women employed as yesterday. With the Leader's permission, I rode a hunting with twenty of his young men. They killed 8 Buffalo, excellent sport. They are so expert that with one, or two, arrows they will drop a Buffalo. As for me I had sufficient employ to manage my horse. When I came home I was invited to the Leader's tent again where were all the Asinepoet Leaders, etc., I thought it very curious as there were four different languages among us. The Leader gave orders to pitch away from him, and that we would see him again in the Spring, when they came down after the Buffalo. He gave one of the Leaders two young slaves as a present and 40 Buffalo tongues; they were both girls.
16. Wednesday. The women were busy as yesterday. With the leader's permission, I rode hunting with twenty of his young men. They killed 8 buffalo; excellent sport. They are so skilled that with one or two arrows they will bring down a buffalo. As for me, I had enough to do to manage my horse. When I came home, I was invited to the leader's tent again, where all the Asinepoet leaders were. I thought it very curious, as there were four different languages among us. The leader gave orders for us to move camp away from him, and said that we would see him again in the spring, when they came down after the buffalo. He gave one of the leaders two young slaves as a present, and 40 buffalo tongues. They were both girls.
- The Assiniboine (Nakoda), a plains people. Several of their bands had joined Henday's party on the way.
Page images of the original object or of the printed edition, from the libraries and archives that hold them. The pages shown are copied here where the holder marks them public domain; titles link to the holder's own viewer. Click a page to see it full size.
Internet Archive (University of Alberta Library, Peel collection). pp. 337–340. Believed to be in the public domain in Canada (University of Alberta Library statement); published 1907.
The printed edition our text follows.
Henday wrote in English; this is the text of Lawrence J. Burpee's edition (Ottawa, 1907), pages 337–340, from a later copy of the lost original. The entries for October 13–16, 1754, are given whole.
Spelling, capitals and punctuation are modernized, and “&” is written out; Henday's words and word order are kept. His names for peoples (Archithinue, Asinepoet) and his word “natives” are kept. In unit 14.2, “set on several grand-pipes, and smoked all round” is lightly reworded as “set out several grand pipes, and they smoked all round” for clarity, and two long sentences (units 14.2 and 15.1) are split in two. A few old words are replaced and noted in the unit notes (“ledges of woods,” “tractible,” “reconitre”).
- Original
- Text as printed in the named edition or on the object, read from page images. Edition: Lawrence J. Burpee, ed., “York Factory to the Blackfeet Country: The Journal of Anthony Hendry, 1754–55,” Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, 3rd series, vol. 1 (1907), section II, pp. 307–364, printed from a transcript of a copy in the Canadian Archives (one of Andrew Graham's later copies of the journal). Passage pp. 337–340. Digital text: Internet Archive item yorkfactorytobla00hend (University of Alberta Library copy), OCR text, extracted by code. Not yet read against the page images. Henday's journal text only; Burpee's introduction and notes are not copied.
- Editor’s review
- Not yet.
- Specialist review
- Not yet. Readings a specialist should confirm are listed for later review.
- Rights
- Original: public domain. Edition: public domain.
Sources for the notes
- Burpee, Lawrence J., ed. “York Factory to the Blackfeet Country: The Journal of Anthony Hendry, 1754–55.” Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, 3rd ser., 1 (1907), sec. II, 307–364. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/yorkfactorytobla00hend. Introduction, pp. 307–320, and journal, pp. 335–340, with Burpee's notes on those pages.
- Wilson, Clifford. “Henday (Hendey, Hendry), Anthony.” In Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 3. University of Toronto/Université Laval, 1974, revised. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/henday_anthony_3E.html
- Dalhousie University Archives. “Burpee, Lawrence Johnstone, 1873–1946.” Authority record. https://findingaids.library.dal.ca/burpee-lawrence-johnstone-1873-1946