Leisure Figures from History: Captain John Palliser, "explorer"

Behold! British surveyor Captain John Palliser: famous for surveying much of Western Canada. Here in Alberta there's a school division named after him and a slew of other public buildings and places. However I think a strong case could be made that the legend has somewhat taken flight of the actual life. His first book was called "Solitary Rambles and Adventures of a Hunter in the Prairies." I've read some of it, skimmed all of it. It's pretty entertaining in parts. By all accounts except for his he was a fearless trailblazer and scientist. His own account reads more like the diaries of a rich bon vivant. He spends a good deal of the first chapter describing gleefully an officer aboard the ship he sailed on who was a midget- his clothing, and especially his demeanor, which he took to be most comically at odds with his stature. In the book he catalogues with Germanic thoroughness each animal he kills. It's a staggering amount.

He makes his way inland from Boston, taking every opportunity to lay waste the native creatures. At one point he steps out of the queue waiting for a ferry, loads his gun and begins shooting at the birds to stave off his boredom: "I went out with my double-barreled gun whilst waiting for the New Orleans boat, and after some wading brought back several ducks and quails." His day to day diary includes entries like "Arose at eleven to a fine morning..." and "Left several carcasses to rot for we could not carry all the meat..." In fact most of the land he is credited with surveying had already been surveyed and explored for a while by the time he brought his swath of destruction along, just not by what the British North American Exploring Expedition considered reputable sources. The title is also misleading- he travelled with at least two native guides at all times, and often with a small crew of lackeys and fellow gentleman of means and leisure. I think this illustration is a perfect summary of his life and work- if only because it's hard to determine whether the man clinging to the tree is evading the buffalo or the trigger happy Englishman's bullet.

If he had shortcomings (I wouldn't call them that) as an explorer (which he wasn't) his legacy has more than compensated for them. I'm glad this Flashman-like character of our history has a proud place among the progenitors of this province. If traveling around in a caravan with pack mules for your wine, pack mules for your guns and ammo, guides and lackeys to make and break camp for you and shooting anything feathered or furry with impunity can be passed off as serious scientific inquiry there's hope for us all 200 years down the road. Hats off to John Palliser.

2013

2013. So far I've worked like five days this year.  I think I've been in the hot tub about thirty times. Pruny, pruny and boring is how I'd say 2013 is being forecast. My number one preoccupation is keeping the walkways clear enough from snow so the mailman delivers the books I've ordered. Hoisted by my own petard. Wherefore my band of merry leisure fellows? I may have reached a relaxation saturation point.