Gunpowder Bags.

A hundred miles upstream from Jamestown, on an exploring journey by canoe, Smith was badly burned and injured by the explosion of a gunpowder bag. 17th century.
http://www.teachersyndicate.com/documents/oct_2010/TTC%20Guidebooks/American%20Identity.pdf


Supplies for 24 Abenakis and Iroquois who have joined our party:
24 pounds of gunpowder in one bag of half an ell
Supplies for the six militia men:
6 pounds of gunpowder in bags of one eighth of an ell
1756-1760 journal of Louis Antoine de Bougainville
France, Archives de Colonies series C11A, volume 117, folios 191v to 194, National Archives of Canada, microfilm f-118.


8 Leather lodges
20 Powder bags
3 setts Wampum moons
15 nests sheet iron kettles
Invoice of Sundry Merchandise from the Rocky Mountain Outfit 1836
under charge of Fontenelle, Fitzpatrick, & Co.


15           Leather Powder Bags

Invoice of Sundry Merchandise furnished Rocky Mountain Outfit 1837 under charge of Fontenelle, Fitzpatrick & Co.

“…fungus that grows on the outside of the birch-tree…used by all the Indians in those parts for tinder…called by the Northern Indians Jolt-thee, and is known all over the country bordering on Hudson’s Bay by the name of Pesogan…there is another kind…that I think is infinitely preferable to either. This is found in old decayed poplars, and lies in flakes…is always moist when taken from the tree but when dry…takes fire readily from the spark of a steel: but it is much improved by being kept dry in a bag that has contained gunpowder.”

~Samuel Hearne, Northern Canada, 1772

More Bags & Pouches.

The belt bag or belt pouch went out of fashion in the 17th century, but it was retained as a utility bag by tradesmen, women and hunters into the 18th century. I use mine to carry my flint & steel and my fishing tackle because I always have this pouch with me at all times.

The powder wallet or powder bag was used to carry extra gunpowder. When it was no longer in use for containing gunpowder some people would use it for storing extra tinder for fire lighting.

"...........takes fire readily from the spark of a steel: but it is much improved by being kept dry in a bag that has contained gunpowder."

Samuel Hearne, Northern Canada 1772.

My fire bag is made of leather and made water resistant by rubbing in a mixture of tallow and beeswax. This contains my tinderbox and some small pieces of kindling plus a small candle used for drying out wet kindling if I have to. This with my steel is carried in my belt pouch. The steel is tied off to the bag buckle so it cannot be lost.

This is another knapsack that I made out of a second hand Chinese all cotton school bag. I attached leather shoulder straps made from second hand waistbelts & I removed the friction buckles and staps from the flap closure and added three bone buttons. The bag cost me $2.00 at an op-shop.