Local historian publishes “Pearl of the West” after 50 years of research on Anthony Henday’s journey with companion
After researching the life and times of explorer Anthony Henday for the past 55 years, local historian Peter McArthur has published his seminal book, “Pearl of the West.”
The subtitle reads: “Anthony Henday’s Bedmate in 1754-55,” and refers to a girl named Pearl who McArthur says chose Henday as her mate and was his companion for the journey. She was just 13 years of age when that happened, but McArthur says the cultural mores of her tribe at the time meant she was of age and able to choose her own mate.
He recounts how together the girl and the Hudson’s Bay Co. trader shared a journey of discovery and adventure. He says this historical novel is “based on the first recorded non-Native person to enter what is now called the province of Alberta.”
The novel centres around the attachment between Henday and Pearl, and describes the encampments, people and adventures of the time.
“Here is a dramatic novel that will acquaint you with the harsh realities of the 16th Century in Canada’s vast western frontier,” he writes, “where rules set down in London, England simply did not and could not apply.”
The novel’s front illustration is a depiction of the young Pearl. It is a portraiture drawn by young Viking artist, Aaliyah Gosselin.
McArthur himself jokes that the book “took a year to get together,” but only after over 50 years of studying the subject. “It’s pretty in-depth.”
He recalls reading the first copy of Henday’s journal, which is considered the best out of four existing copies made, in 1969. McArthur did his reading in the lock up room where precious documents are stored at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary.
“I had a mess of notes about it,” he said. It was the start of five decades of research and notes culminating in the book which gives his take on the explorer and HBC trader.
McArthur’s book is written documentary-style and contains a message he wants to relate about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Henday’s original journal, called a “waist book.” McArthur contends it was destroyed upon his return to York Factory at Hudson Bay.
He believes the HBC officials there “destroyed the original journal because it gave credit to a native woman,” for helping Henday in dealing with situations, often precarious in nature.
McArthur says the first copy was transcribed by a Mr. Burpee and is considered the most authentic of the four.
But McArthur says there was “very little written on his bedmate,” referring to Pearl. So he has filled in much of the historical background on this. But McArthur added that this is “not a racy” recounting of events, adding: “Kids in school should be able to read it.”
“I hope to give an understanding that Henday had a really tough year in the West,” he said.
The book relates a tale about the meeting of Henday and Pearl, a campfire dance and her wish to accompany him on his trek west. In this narrative, her father consents and the newly formed couple start an adventure.
During that time, McArthur relates how Pearl helped guide his path along the way.
READ THE REST OF THE STORY in this week’s edition of The Weekly Review on newsstands now, or buy the single issue online below:
If you wish to purchase McArthur’s new book, head over to Amazon.ca where you can purchase it in paperback, hard cover, or a digital (Kindle) edition.
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Patricia Harcourt,
Editor
