SW10: Psychovant Teaches American History #12: What Was It About Beaver Fur?

[Scott Eiler]

Psychovant the Duck here, back to start the winter semester lessons in 
American history.  We talked a lot about who came and why.  The usual 
reasons: gold, survival, and... beaver fur??  What was it about beaver 
fur?  Euros really liked the stuff.  They didn't just start wearing 
beaver-skin caps; they took some *special* downy fur from beavers, and 
made top hats!  Guess it was cheaper than silk.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver_hat

  -  When Euros came, the Injuns may have been *cooking and eating* the 
beaver pelts - until the Euros offered to trade guns for them! 
(Citations lacking, and maybe it's Catholic priest propaganda.  Jesuits 
indifferent to Injuns, but loved beaver fur.  But wouldn't *you* eat the 
crunchy hair pelt if you were hungry? 
http://bobarnebeckfur.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-beavers-meant-to-pre-contact.html) 
  Anyway, Injuns took that deal real fast.

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