I found a really interesting book in a second hand book shop the other week. Written in 1974, (before Bushcraft became fashionable?) by a Canadian called Paul Provencher. They are the memoirs of a man who spent his life in the forests of Quebec, surveying, travelling, hunting and trapping.
Among a lots of fascinating accounts of his life, with lotsd of black and white photos,he describes what "basic kit" one of his Montagnais Native compagnon had in his pockets.
"I'd noticed that Uapistan always travelled light, and never cluttered himself up with useless things. Apart from his axe, which he always carried in his hand, and his pipe in the corner of his mouth, Uapistan seemed to need nothing, and yet to be always ready to meet Nature's challenges. Thisintrigued me deeply, so much that one day I asked him to empty his pocket for me. He lloked at me in surprise, and then burst out laughing.
"you think I have pinched your matches, Otshimau?"
"Oh no Uapistan! Come on now, you know very well I trust you. I just want to see what you carry in your pockets that gives you such self-confidence!" At that, he began to empty his pochets willingly enough.
He took out a pouch full of tobacco, a dozen matches in a water-tight case made of birch bark, five hare snares made of brass wire, a single blade pocket knife, a small whetstone, 4 lengths of fishing line each about a yard long, 2 wire leades about the same length, 4 inch-and-a-half fishhooks, and a twenty foot length of line.
From his right hip pocket he took an oilcloth tobacco pouch containing a handful of tea, from his left, a catapult and 6 rounf pebbles 1/2 inch in diameter and 4 3inch nails. The whole collection weighed about half a pound. The belt holding his pants consisted of a thin thong of oil tanned leather, thirty inches long. ( for string of bow drill)
Well, I'd stripped my "superman"! But what a lesson in forethought I'd had from it!
I think it's amazing how little some people need to survive. What do you think?
Among a lots of fascinating accounts of his life, with lotsd of black and white photos,he describes what "basic kit" one of his Montagnais Native compagnon had in his pockets.
"I'd noticed that Uapistan always travelled light, and never cluttered himself up with useless things. Apart from his axe, which he always carried in his hand, and his pipe in the corner of his mouth, Uapistan seemed to need nothing, and yet to be always ready to meet Nature's challenges. Thisintrigued me deeply, so much that one day I asked him to empty his pocket for me. He lloked at me in surprise, and then burst out laughing.
"you think I have pinched your matches, Otshimau?"
"Oh no Uapistan! Come on now, you know very well I trust you. I just want to see what you carry in your pockets that gives you such self-confidence!" At that, he began to empty his pochets willingly enough.
He took out a pouch full of tobacco, a dozen matches in a water-tight case made of birch bark, five hare snares made of brass wire, a single blade pocket knife, a small whetstone, 4 lengths of fishing line each about a yard long, 2 wire leades about the same length, 4 inch-and-a-half fishhooks, and a twenty foot length of line.
From his right hip pocket he took an oilcloth tobacco pouch containing a handful of tea, from his left, a catapult and 6 rounf pebbles 1/2 inch in diameter and 4 3inch nails. The whole collection weighed about half a pound. The belt holding his pants consisted of a thin thong of oil tanned leather, thirty inches long. ( for string of bow drill)
Well, I'd stripped my "superman"! But what a lesson in forethought I'd had from it!
I think it's amazing how little some people need to survive. What do you think?
