Canoes: A Natural History in North America

Neuzil, Mark; Sims, Norman

This woodcut illustration of a Taino dugout canoe first appeared in Girolamo Benzoni’s La Historia del Mondo Nuovo in 1562. It is titled Modo di nauigare nel Mare di Tramontana, or “navigating into the north wind.” Since the canoe and paddle shapes are not accurate, this illustration probably came from Columbus’s written description rather than from personal contact.

Modo di nauigare nel Mare di Tramontana

From Chapter 1: Dugout Canoes

Woodcut illustration of a Taino dugout canoe, Girolamo Benzoni’s La Historia del Mondo Nuovo, 1562.

This drawing by John White dates between 1585 and 1593, and was probably intended to display a bounteous scene to encourage English colonists. Inscribed “The manner of their fishing.” The Algonquin of North Carolina used dugout canoes to harvest fish from February to May. The word “cannow” is written on the hull of the boat.

The Manner of Their Fishing

From Chapter 1: Dugout Canoes

Drawing by John White (~1585–1593), inscribed The manner of their fishing and A Cannow.

An etching of two men working with steam to hollow a dugout. Men in the background fell trees with fires.

The Manner of Makinge Their Boates

From Chapter 1: Dugout Canoes

The Manner of Makinge Their Boates, Theodor de Bry, 1590.

Florida Dugout Canoe and Typical Timucua Houses

From Chapter 1: Dugout Canoes

Florida dugout canoe and typical Timucua houses, 1591, engraving by Theodor de Bry after Jacques Le Moyne.

T’Fort Nieuw Amsterdam op de Manhatans

From Chapter 1: Dugout Canoes

Kryn Frederycks woodcut titled T’ Fort Nieuw Amsterdam op de Manhatans, ca. 1626.

Map of New France

From Chapter 3: The Fur Trade

Samuel de Champlain, Map of New France, 1632.

An illustrated color map of the Great Lakes region.

Partie occidentale du Canada ou de la Nouvelle France

From Chapter 3: The Fur Trade

Jean Baptiste Nolin and Vincenzo Coronelli, Partie occidentale du Canada ou de la Nouvelle France, (Paris: J. B. Nolin, 1688).

A drawing depicting several elm-bark canoes and an oar.

Elm-Bark Canoes of New France

From Sidebar: Elm-Bark Canoes

The Baron of Lahontan (Louis-Armand de Lom d'Arce) drew this description of the Iroquois' elm-bark canoes for a three-volume memoir of his time in New France, which ended in 1693.

Portrait of Louis, XIV

From Chapter 3: The Fur Trade

After Hyacinthe Rigaud, Portrait of Louis, XIV, after 1701.

Le Cours du Missisipi

From Chapter 3: The Fur Trade

Nicholas de Fer, Le Cours du Missisipi, 1718.

A map of the British possessions in North America.

A New and Exact Map of the Dominions of the King

From Chapter 3: The Fur Trade

John Bowles, Thomas Bowles and Herman Moll, A New and Exact Map of the Dominions of the King, 1731.

Furrier

From Chapter 3: The Fur Trade

Denis Diderot's depiction of a Parisien furrier from his L’Encyclopie, 1751–1757

Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing presents to Capt. Cook

From Chapter 1: Dugout Canoes

John Webber, Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing presents to Capt. Cook.

Sea Otter Engraving, 1780

From Chapter 1: Dugout Canoes

Sea otter engraving, 1780.

An illustration of pearl divers and canoes in the water.

Pearl Diving

From Chapter 3: The Fur Trade

French explorers witnessed the pearl diving industry in the Caribbean, where the newcomers got a glimpse of the native dugouts used in the activity.

Alexander Mackenzie's Routes

From Chapter 8: Canoe Tripping

A map of Alexander Mackenzie’s routes from Montreal to Fort Chipewyan and then onward to the Arctic Ocean in 1789 and to the Pacific Ocean in 1793. Published by Mackenzie in 1801.