Gourds Galore

Two posts in less than a week, what gives? This one really is a gimme; I compiled most of it several years ago and never got around to doing anything with it but out it comes now. Exploration west of the Mississippi in the 19th century had a major huddle that didn’t exist in the East; namely scarcity of water. Contrary to popular belief not everyone strapped a bottle, cheesebox, or tin canteen to them everytime they left home for a bit, they didn’t have to. You don’t need a canteen when (potable) water was relatively accessible as you traversed the wilderness.

Now even out West some people stubbornly went sans conventional water container… and nearly died, or adapted unique water vessels; just like Pattie and friends.

“Notwithstanding I was sick myself, I emptied my powder horn of its contents, filled it with water, and accompanied by one companion, who had also filled his powder horn, I returned towards my father and Mr. Slover, his exhausted companion, with a quick step. We found them in the same position in which we had left them, that is, stretched on the sand at full length, under the unclouded blaze of the sun, and both fast asleep; a sleep from which, but for our relief, I believe they would neither of them ever have awakened. Their lips were black, and their parched mouths wide open. Their unmoving posture and their sunken eyes so resembled death, that I ran in a fright to my father, thinking him, for a moment, really dead“

-THE PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF JAMES O. PATTIE, OF KENTUCKY

Soooo yeah, don’t be that guy, especially don’t be that guy these days, all they had to worry about back then was beaver fever and the like but depending on your modern adventures… you can meet up with some equal or greater contenders.

All this is lead into, gourds. They’re cheap and easy to grow and turn into canteens and are all over the place in accounts in the Southwest. Let’s pick though some great quotes and images.

A short rifle, made for horsemen, was slung across my shoulders, and in my pocket I carried two small pistols. On the hind part of the saddle was lashed my coffee pot and linen wallet, containing my slender store of provisions, and on the pommel hung a Mexican gourd, intended to carry water over the dry and extensive prairies. This last article of my outfit deserves a special notice. It consists of two bulbs with a natural contraction, between the two, of just sufficient size to admit the passage of the water from one to the other and strength to hold the two together when filled. The upper bulb terminates in a shape very much resembling the neck of a bottle. By means of a string between the two, which is prevented from slipping either way, the gourd hangs perpendicularly from the pommel—as the lower bulb is generally one third larger than the upper. This convenience to the traveler can be procured of a size to carry from a pint to a gallon of water. Nature, who is always watchful of the wants of man, no matter where he is, has doubtless intended this singular piece of vegetation for his support and comfort in his journey over the prairie, as she has not only constructed it with a view to easy transportation but it is so formed, being a bad conductor of heat, that the water will not change much in temperature or deteriorate in flavor, after having been carried all day through the heat of the sun. I was informed but will not vouch for the truth that frequent attempts have been made to introduce this singular production of nature into several of the southern states but without success. It loses its fair proportions where it is not imperiously wanted, and even by so small a circumstance, one is forced to remember the words of the poet— The different blessings make The different countries even.

-Texas in 1837, anonymous

After leaving these hospitable Mexicans, I soon came to a rancho, where I bought a gourd, to supply the place of one of my water bottles which I had accidentally broken; and in going two miles further, I came to a stream, where I put my horse to grass, and made for myself a more abundant quantity of coffee that what had, of necessity, sufficed for three persons in the morning. After resting some hours here, I filled my gourd and bottle from the river, and went on till near dark, then encamped.

-The life, travels, and opinions of Benjamin Lundy

Deaf Smith's horse bore evident marks of superior breeding,) with a Mexican riddle, consisting of the bare tree with a blanket or great coat covered over it. Mexican spurs, the shank about from one to two or three inches long-bridle of ponderous and very rank bits--a Mexican gourd swung from the saddle bow--holsters--pair of pistols and bowie knife in the belt, a rifle on the shoulder--a mackinaw blanket rolled up encroupe-a cabarrus, or rope of hair around the horse's neck

-Matagorda Bulletin. (Matagorda, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 6, Ed. 1, Wednesday, September 6, 1837

“I hurriedly poured a little flour into my gourd and wet it and put the dough around a stick and thrust it into the fire when the command "March" was given”

-James Monroe Hill, San Jacinto veteran, 1894

The poor wounded boys now begged as a last favour of their companions, to fill their gourds with water before leaving them. The Mexicans had posted a strong guard at the spring, but the appeal of their stricken brothers was not to be resisted, and they marched in a body, determined to reach the fountain or perish in the attempt. After exchanging a volley, the Mexicans left them in possession of the spring; each then filled his gourd and returned unhurt to their companions”

-Texas and The Texans, Henry Stuart Foote 1841

After resting a moment and filling our gourds, bought from a Mexican whom we met, for a dollar, we went on, continuing parallel with the road and about a mile from it. After riding about sixteen miles, dark came upon us, when my pains became so acute that I was forced to stop.”

-Dr. John Sutherland, 1836

"Colonel Wharton, you have commanded long enough. Damn you, go about your business." Wharton made no reply, but taking a gourd of water hanging at the pommel of his saddle, he drank copiously and then rode off; while Houston rode to Colonel Turner's commany, to whom he gave some orders.

--Dr. Nicholas Labadie, The San Jacinto Campaign of 1836 : as given by depositions in the case of John Forbes vs. Nicholas D. Labadie

“I rode on a peace farther and Brother Thomas call to me and I went to whare he was. He had just arived with a gourd of watter for Reede and th[e] doctor was comeing, and I saw Doctor Brown ex[tract] arrows from him and dress his wounds”

- James Wilson Nichols

“That night we repaired the old broken table and at supper we gathered once more around the festal board which was lightly burdened with a scant supply of dried beef, while our beverage was water--drunk from the Spanish gourd. But to us it was a joyful feast because we were at home”-

-Creed Taylor, Tall Men with Longrifles

Our inventive wits soon fastened on another trick to spur on the interest of our Mexican audience. Setting up our caps on our bottle-gourds, we propped the latter against the wall so that part of this masquerade should be visible over the top of the masonry. Our success was immediate-our adversaries merrily resumed their firing, with the result that they wasted their powder and not infrequently exposed themselves to the view of the pioneers or Greys, who either shot them down or at least disabled their right arms.”

-Herman Ehrenberg, Texas and Its Revolution, 1843

The animal, however, got wind of him, and scurried off into the thickest brush he could find. In vain did we get after him, the led horse must not be left, and could not be gotten out of a walk; the water gourd at the pommel of his saddle bounced about in great danger of being broken; a loose blanket on top of the saddle slipped off and must not be abandoned; and so, before we could readjust our equipment, Bruin was out of sight.

-Miles S. Bennet

At about 3 o'clock, P. M. Gen. Ampudia came into the American camp and asked permission to take all the wounded and sick away from there. He was told that he could do so and would not be molested. Two men with two horses loaded with roasted meat and gourds of water for the wounded and sick were sent with Felizola. He took them with him and overtook main body at Colorado river.

-Antonio Menchaca, MEMOIRS 1907

“The men took possession of our playhouse, spread their blankets on the ground for beds, used their saddles for pillows, and sat on the petrified log. Each man had a knife, a tin cup, a gun, and a bottle gourd.”

One of the Mexicans put a big saddle on the pony, with a girth and bridle made of hair, lariat, blanket, bottle gourd, and other things too numerous to mention, then got on and stuck his big spurs in the pony's side, struck it with a quirt, and started. Sister and I cried all day about the pony.

-Dilue Harris, The Reminiscences of Mrs. Dilue Harris

An Indian was coming from the rivulet with water in a calabash. My companion went straight to him, and asked him to allow him to drink. The Indian handed him the calabash, and my companion enjoyed a most delicious draught. One of the Indians inquired of me where we intended camping. I answered at Braunfels. After a delay of a few minutes, we started off at a gallop, delighted to have escaped so well. These Indians were probably either Lipans or Delawares.

-Emmanuel Domenech, Missionary adventures in Texas and Mexico, 1858

We now have him seated upon his mule, with a double-barrelled smooth bore upon his shoulder, while around and beneath him, tied on and hanging in festoons, was a general assortment of a little of everything. There were a ham, a tea-kettle, a wallet of biscuit, half a dozen tin cups, a gourd, a pair of pistols, and a coffee-pot, all occupying prominent situations immediately around him.

-Thomas Falconer, Letters and notes on the Texan Santa Fe Expedition, 1841-1842

Always willing, ready, and among the first to enter into any madcap, daring, or break¬ neck scrape, as a matter of course Fitz led off the chase after the buffalo. He was mounted on a game and untiring Mexican pony, loaded down with saddlebags, water-gourd, blan¬ kets, and the miscellaneous equipage which constitutes the fit-out of a campaigner; but all this did not deter him from starting off at once. Away he went in neck-or-nothing style, riding up to the first buffalo he met, and banging away with his pistols as fast as he could load and fire. In all his wanderings he had never met with buffalo before, and so exciting was the dangerous sport of riding among them, that he could not command himself. In the mad chase he lost first his hat, then his blanket, and finally his saddle¬ bags and water-gourd; but these were mere trifles when such game was in sight, and as Fitz never stopped to pick them up, they are probably now lying on the prairie in the exact places where he dropped them.

At a steady pace we journeyed onward till dark, the weather mild and pleasant for walking; but now a raw night wind sprang up, fresh and piercing, from the snow-clad mountains, and chilling our weak frames so thoroughly that the most violent exercise could not keep us warm. A water-gourd, holding some two quarts, which I had filled on starting, after taking a hearty draught at the river, slipped from my benumbed fingers, and was dashed to pieces on the frozen ground

After drinking deeply at the foun¬ tain-head, and fervently hoping for a con¬ tinuance of such good fortune, we filled our gourds and canteens, and resumed our march

No water could be found in our vicinity, but as we had filled our gourds and canteens before we left the main body, we suffered but little

-George Kendall, Narrative of the Texan Sante Fé expedition

We chose, if possible, to encamp. on the bank of some stream, where we can have the benefit of fresh water; but if this cannot be, we always carry with us a Spanish gourd filled with water. Sometimes. however, we suffer exceedingly for want of something to drink, on account of the rivers and creeks being dry.

-William Dewees, Letters from an early settler of Texas

We were somewhat amused by observing the rather rough and uncouth manners of two young men from a retired settlement, some distance inland, who stopped here on their way to San Felipe. They seemed to relish as highly as we did some of the plain but wholesome food which was placed before us; and one of them, after taking a large draught of some of the richest milk in the world, turning to his comrade, said with peculiar emphasis: “If we could take this milk along with us in our gourd, and have it fresh on the Prairie, I tell you, it would be nauceous.”

-A Visit to Texas

We had no water, but in a few minutes he had filled our gourds with what had collected during the rain in the concavities of the maguey leaves

-Jean Berlandier, Journey to Mexico during the years 1826-to 1834

A good plan, when in a country like this, and having to drink such stagnant, warm and unpalatable water, is to cover a canteen or gourd with a piece of woolen cloth, or blanket, and filling the vessel, wet the outside and hang it on a tree or bush over night; by evaporation a cool drink is thus afforded at least once in twenty-four hours.

-W. B. Parker, Notes taken during the expedition commanded by Capt. R.B. Marcy

While they were dispensing a small cupful to each man, Wallace noticed a cavalryman near him who had the water gourd which had been taken from him at Mier, and thinking they would all be shot anyway, sprang at him and said in Spanish, "That is my gourd; give it up." The Mexican soldier at once complied, saying, "Pobrecito" (poor fellow). Wallace turned up the gourd, and said that first swallow of water was the best he ever tasted. He continued to gurgle it down, and Tom Davis ran up to him and said, "Give me some, Big Foot."

It was a fine place for an ambush — rocks, low brush, and cedar trees. The lead men had penetrated the ambush, and their order as to position when the battle commenced was as follows : Robinson in front, Leakey next, Webster next, Barrymore next, and Thompson last. Mr. Thompson was incumbered with a large Spanish water gourd full of water which was strapped to his left arm. In addition to this he carried a heavy rifle, was very much fatigued, and had not quite reached the top. He had just called to the men to stop and rest awhile, when two shots were fired in front by the Indians at Robinson and Leakey. At the same time he saw an Indian running along a ledge in plain view waving a red blanket and yelling… Mr. Thompson saw Mr. Leakey close among the Indians, and pointing his gun vigorously from one to another but failing to fire. The reason for this was the fact that Leakey had borrowed a rifle with set triggers, and he had been used to a single-triggered gun, so in this trying ordeal he had failed to spring the trigger and the hammer could not be pulled down. At this time Mr. Thompson was making frantic efforts to disengage the water gourd from his arm, but failing, was compelled to fire with this weight dangling at his left elbow. The Indian he aimed at was not more than twenty yards from him…After emptying his pistol he had turned from the Indians and sprang down a ledge, covered with wounds, and made his way back more dead than alive. Mr. Thompson at once went to him and gave him water out of the gourd which he still carried on his arm. The water soon revived Leakey, and he began to talk. The first words he said were, "Damn the gun !

-A.J. Sowell, Early settlers and Indian fighters of southwest Texas

Okay, enough quotes; which are by no means exhaustive either. Lets look at pictures and we’ll call it a wrap till next time… so maybe a year from now, or something.