How the “Mountain Man” came about

It was in 1780 that the Hudson’s Bay Company started trading the coloured woollen blankets which our hunter is wearing.

These blankets, just like the expansion in fur trading, were gradually distributed from Canada to the Great Plains where they became barter goods with the local tribes. Their use was varied: as a bed, as a gift at ceremonies, as fashionable leggings, or more often, as a long cape with a hood which the French-Canadian fur hunters called “capote”. Being of quite varied and bright colours, they were distinguished by points, coloured bands which indicated the weight of the wool. A 3-point blanket in fact would weigh 3 pounds. Although light in weight, the blankets were very warm and were an excellent alternative to leather clothes which were heavier.