A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Monday 3 May 2010

Pioneer life or 30 years a hunter. By Philip Tome.

Pioneer Life.

Or 30 years a hunter.
By Philip Tome.


“Taking salt and flour with us we pushed up our canoe to a place called Round Island”.
“We now brought our venison together, and built a scaffold on which we placed it to dry. It may well here to describe the manner of preserving Elk’s meat in the summer. It is first cut into thin slices and salted down in the skin. We always carried a bag of salt with us for that purpose. Two large poles are laid across crotches about five feet high, and a number of smaller ones are laid across these. After the meat has lain a sufficient length of time in the skin, it is spread upon this scaffold, and a slow fire built under it. The fire is gradually increased and the meat turned until it is dried through. In this state it is called jerk”.
“My father commenced mending his moccasins”.
“They came up pine creek with a keel boat loaded with flour, pork, sugar, chocolate, tea, and all kinds of clothing for the men”.
“We all had fishing lines”.
“I called to Strawbridge to throw the axe at the snake”.
“During the winter when the river was covered with ice, the deer would fall into the air holes and become an easy prey (to the wolves). We took off the skin and if the deer did not prove to be very good, we would leave half of it to the wolves, but if it was good, we left the refuse parts to encourage them in pursuing the deer”.
“On leaving the house we always put on a pair of woollen socks and leggings over our shoes to protect our legs from the snakes”.

Image added by Le Loup.

4 comments:

Bob Mc said...

An excellent book if you haven't read it is "Forty Four years Of The Life Of A Hunter" by Meshach Browning.

Keith said...

Thanks Bob, I just downloaded it but have not had a chance to read it yet.
Much appreciated.
Regards, Le Loup.

Unknown said...

Definitely worth reading - and quick, too. Lots of useful + subtle Hunting + Survival tips, and explanations of some forgotten Indian Lore, such as, How to keep Rattlesnakes away.
It also answers the question: Why spend the night in a canoe in the middle of Pine Creek rather than sleep on shore ??

Steve
www.kbsb.com/bonnelltree

Keith said...

Thanks for the feedback Steve. Yes a little late for my period, but as you say, worth reading.