Author: Herbert Eugene Bolton
Title: French intrusions into New Mexico, 1749-1752
Publisher: New York, Macmillan
Subject (keywords, tags): New Mexico -- History To 1848
Contributor: University of California Libraries
Format: txt
Size: 19 kb
Professor Bolton is at his best as he describes how Spanish disinterest in the fine fur trade contributed to their loss of New Mexico. His writing is crisp and his storytelling is in fine form as he spins an interesting narrative that connects people, places, and politics.
Despite the years stated in the title, Bolton actually begins his narrative in 1718 with La Harpe's building of Cadodacho on the Red River. He then goes on to talk about other traders who extended the range of the French voyageurs. As 1749 approaches, the narrative slows and the author begins to delve more deeply into the sources that describe the difficulties faced by the various parties involved: the French (to get access to the pelts and trade); the Spanish (to keep the French out of their lands); the Native Americans (to get access to the trade while keeping other tribes excluded).
It is not possible to list the many individuals and tribes that are discussed. However, in the category of voyageurs, the paper talks about the likes of La Harpe, DuTisne, Satren, Febre, Riballo, Sandoval, the Mallet brothers, and a German, amongst others. Major sections also deal with the politics of the Comanche, Apache, Pawnee, and Jumano tribes. Likewise French officials are not left out.
