Voyage of the Paper Canoe: A Geographical Journey of 2,500 Miles from Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico, During the Years 1874-5

by Nathaniel Holmes Bishop

Nathaniel Bishop left Quebec in the summer of 1874 in an 18-foot canoe, accompanied by an assistant. His plan was to follow natural and manmade waterways all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, making as few portages as possible. 400 miles into the journey, he discovered a company in New York state that had been perfecting the construction of paper boats. Dismissing his assistant, Bishop purchased one of these incredibly light and sturdy paper crafts and paddled the next 2,000 miles on his own, emerging off the Florida coast in 1875. This is the story of his incredible journey.

Genres: Travel

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1878

About the author

1837-1902

Reviews

[Susan Ferguson]

The route was unknown to me because I am not familiar with the geography of all the rivers, canals and creeks. The book is quite interesting for it's account of the trials to be met with and the events and people he encountered during his journey. The people and setting of that time shortly after the Civil War were interesting. The paper canoe was built by a company that had recently started building paper shells and scows for racing teams and excited much interest where ever he went. People in less populated parts of the country had a hard time believing the canoe was made from paper and kept poking it and trying to stick knives through it when he turned up. But he was not unexpected. People far away had heard about the canoe in papers and in letters from others and they all wanted to see the canoe.

[Michael J.]

Bittersweet

Mr. Bishop does an excellent job of describing several beautiful regions of the coastal United States which, unfortunately, has been irrevocably ruined by development. Great historical snapshot.

[Steve Warhola]

Outstanding trip but the book was fine

[Tammy]

Available as an ebook from Gutenberg. Though naturally anachronistic in style (written in the 1800's) it carries the reader along at a cracking pace, describing his experience en route, what he sees and who meets.
"In an isolated dell I found the home
of one Levi Smith, who piloted me through the
woods to the lake, and ferried me in a skiff
across to Hague, when I dined at the hotel, and
resumed my journey along the shores to Sabbath
Day Point, where at four o'clock P. M. a steamer
on its trip from Ticonderoga to the south end of
the lake stopped and took me on board. We
steamed southward to where high mountains
shut in the lake, and for several miles threaded
the "Narrows" with its many pretty islands,
upon one of which Mr. J. Henry Hill, the
hermit-artist, had erected his modest home, and
where he toiled at his studies early and late,
summer and winter. Three goats and a squirrel
were his only companions in this lonely but
romantic spot."


There are no maps or illustrations with the free downloadable ebook from Gutenberg which is a pity.

[Theodore]

This was an interesting book, besides the details of the voyage itself it was full of information as to what the Southern States were like about ten years after the Civil War. Nathaniel depicted things as he saw them, but it might be offensive to those who believe Political Correctness is more important than historical accuracy.

[Dave Riley]

Read it before. Now again. Inspiration for adventure.