Series:

Cambridge Library Collection - North American History

2 primary works • 3 total works

Volume 1

Cover of New Light on the Early History of the Greater Northwest: Volume 1, The Red River of the North
During the 1890s Elliott Coues (1842-1899), one of America's greatest ornithologists, edited several exploration narratives about the American Northwest, including Lewis and Clark's Travels. Coues tracked down the manuscript journals of two of Lewis and Clark's contemporaries, fur trader Alexander Henry (1765-1814) and geographer David Thompson (1770-1857), employees of the Northwest Company. Coues' abridged and edited version of Henry's text, accompanied by notes that draw heavily on Thompson's scientific records, appeared in 1897 in three volumes; in this reissue the index volume is included in Volume 2. Despite the deep prejudice evident in Henry's writing, Coues judged it a reliable account of his unscrupulous business dealings, and of the harsh realities he observed among many different First Nations peoples. Volume 1 covers the period from 1799 to 1808, when Henry travelled along the Red River and set up the Pembina River trading post.

Volume 2

Cover of New Light on the Early History of the Greater Northwest: Volume 2
During the 1890s Elliott Coues (1842-1899), one of America's greatest ornithologists, edited several exploration narratives about the American Northwest, including Lewis and Clark's Travels. Coues tracked down the manuscript journals of two of Lewis and Clark's contemporaries, fur trader Alexander Henry (1765-1814) and geographer David Thompson (1770-1857), employees of the Northwest Company. Coues' abridged and edited version of Henry's text, accompanied by notes that draw heavily on Thompson's scientific records, appeared in 1897 in three volumes. Despite the deep prejudice evident in Henry's writing, Coues judged it a reliable account of his unscrupulous business dealings, and of the harsh realities he observed among many different First Nations peoples. Volume 2 covers 1808-14, when Henry travelled in Saskatchewan and Alberta, crossed the Great Divide, and traded along the Columbia River. This volume also contains Coues' original Volume 3, a comprehensive index of people and places.

Cover of New Light on the Early History of the Greater Northwest 2 Volume Set
During the 1890s Elliott Coues (1842-99), one of America's greatest ornithologists, edited several exploration narratives about the American Northwest, including Lewis and Clark's Travels. Coues became aware of two of Lewis and Clark's contemporaries, fur trader Alexander Henry (1765-1814) and geographer David Thompson (1770-1857), employees of the Northwest Company. In 1894 Coues tracked down manuscripts of their unpublished journals, and his abridged and edited version of Henry's text, accompanied by notes that draw heavily on Thompson's scientific records, appeared in 1897. Coues explains that although Henry's account reveals deep prejudice, its graphic but unimaginative descriptions of his unscrupulous business dealings, and of the harsh realities he observed among many different First Nations peoples, are corroborated by other accounts. Coues produced a comprehensive index of the people and places mentioned by Henry; originally published as 'Volume 3', it is here placed at the end of the second volume.