What is a Canoe Worth?

by Jack Wright


(a) six elk
(b) one wife
(c) one uniform laced-up coat, plus 1/2 carrot of tobacco

Answer:  Any of the above, according to the journal of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.  On March 17, 1806, Lewis chronicled his purchase of 2 canoes from the Clatsop Indians, for the (a) and (c) prices above.  Canoes were "an article of the greatest value, in their mode of traffic".  The expedition wanted another canoe, but didn't have any wives to trade for it.  This account is from the book American Odyssey, by I.H. Eide, and was printed in the June 13, 1970, TVCC Newsletter, submitted by Don Hixson.



Technique index


Return to The Canoe Camper's Home Page.


Copyright Gregory Consulting Limited 1996-2006.
All rights reserved.