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Sources of the River
Sources of the River
Tracking David Thompson Across Western North America.
By Jack Nisbet.
Sasquatch Books, Seattle, 1994
280 pp. $30.95 ($22.95 US).
Review by MICHAEL PEAKE --
Che-Mun Editor
Canoelit Home Page
The life of David Thompson - though it ended almost 140 years ago and was for a century shrouded in ignorance - seems to be getting some well-deserved recognition at last. He's been the subject of several articles, at least one as-yet-unpublished manuscript of his travels and now this book, Source of the River, by Jack Nisbet. . This American author tells Thompson's tale through the years 1784-1812.
This was the time of his great western explorations. He was the first man to chart the entire length of the once mighty Columbia Rive,r which is now heavily sedated by massive damming. Nisbet recounts Thompson's travels as they both followed through a variety of areas. Rather than print the journals or narrative directly, Nisbet employs an easygoing style that weaves in Thompson's own journal notations and observations. It's an effective and readable blend.
The book's endpapers are quite interesting. They are a facsimile of the unmistakable writing and drawings of Thompson who was employed for most of the time by the Northwest Company out of Montreal. He explored and made maps, but also was trying to extend the business of the historic company which eventually was merged with the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821.
The book's 16 maps are useful in following the amazing mileage piled up by Thompson. There are no photos in the book and it is a great curiosity that no photo or painting of this illustrious man exists.
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