John Long's Voyages and Travels in the Years 1768-1788

Milo Milton Quaife

• Publisher: Paeroa House
• Year: 2026
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781779795397
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

Journey into the untamed heart of 18th-century North America, where survival depended on cunning, courage, and the ability to navigate between two worlds. John Long's extraordinary twenty-year odyssey through the wilderness reveals a land where European civilization collided with Native American cultures, where fortunes were made and lost in the fur trade, and where a single misstep could mean death in the vast Canadian forests. From the bustling trading posts of Montreal to remote wilderness outposts, Long's firsthand account captures a pivotal moment when the continent's destiny hung in the balance, and ordinary men found themselves thrust into extraordinary circumstances that would reshape history. This remarkable narrative plunges readers into the daily realities of frontier life, where Long served as trader, interpreter, and cultural bridge between worlds. His vivid descriptions bring to life the harsh beauty of the Great Lakes region, the complex relationships between European traders and Indigenous peoples, and the brutal economics of survival in an unforgiving landscape. Through Long's eyes, we witness the delicate diplomacy required to navigate tribal politics, the exhilaration of successful trading expeditions, and the constant threat of violence that shadowed every transaction. His stories reveal not just the mechanics of the fur trade, but the human cost of expansion and the profound cultural exchanges that occurred at civilization's edge. Editor Milo Milton Quaife's meticulous scholarship transforms Long's raw adventures into an essential historical document that speaks directly to contemporary readers fascinated by American origins and frontier experience. This edition provides crucial context for understanding how early America was truly forged through the experiences of men like Long, whose lives bridged cultures and shaped the economic foundations of a nation. For readers captivated by survival narratives, cultural exploration, and the untold stories of American expansion, Long's voyages offer an unfiltered glimpse into the forces that created modern North America, revealing truths about resilience, adaptation, and the complex legacy of frontier encounters.

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Publishers’ Preface
• Historical Introduction
• Preface to the Original Edition
• Chapter 1—REMOVAL TO AMERICA
• Chapter 2—THE VILLAGE OF CAUGHNAWAGA
• Chapter 3—CONCERNING THE IROQUOIS OR FIVE NATIONS INDIANS
• Chapter 4—SCALPING AND INDIAN WARFARE
• Chapter 5—THE CONNECEDAGA OR RONDAXE INDIANS
• Chapter 6—FROM MONTREAL TO MACKINAC
• Chapter 7—REMOVAL TO LAKE SUPERIOR AND ADOPTION BY THE CHIPPEWA
• Chapter 8—THE WINTER AT LAC LA MORT: ENCOUNTER WITH THE NATIVES
• Chapter 9—FURTHER PROCEEDINGS AT LAC LA MORT
• Chapter 10—RETURN TO LAKE SUPERIOR
• Chapter 11—SECOND WINTER AMONG THE NIPIGON INDIANS
• Chapter 12—FAMINE AND CANNIBALISM; OBSERVATIONS UPON THE HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY
• Chapter 13—INDIAN CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS; RETURN TO MACKINAC
• Chapter 14—AN ESCAPADE AT MACKINAC, AND EXPEDITION TO PRAIRIE DU CHIEN
• Chapter 15—EXPEDITION TO THE SAGUENAY COUNTRY
• Chapter 16—FURTHER VICISSITUDES OF THE AUTHOR