A Detailed Examination of Catherine Parr Trail's 'Backwoods of Canada'

This report provides an analysis of Catherine Parr Trail's 'The Backwoods of Canada,' a collection of letters detailing her experiences as an emigrant in Upper Canada. The report examines Trail's observations on the environment, social conditions, and challenges of pioneer life, including the difficulties of transportation, the harsh winters, and health issues like malaria. It explores her perspective as a middle-class woman adapting to a new and demanding environment, highlighting her descriptions of the landscape, interactions with indigenous people, and the evolution of settlements. The report also considers the historical significance of Trail's writings as a valuable source of information about the period, offering insights into the lives of early settlers, their struggles, and their adaptation to the Canadian wilderness. The analysis covers Trail's journey, her impressions of Montreal, her experiences in the backwoods, and her reflections on the changing seasons and the development of the area. The report also includes a bibliography of related sources.

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The backwoods of Canada
Student Details-
7/24/2019

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The Backwoods of Canada: Catherine Parr Trail
Catherine Parr Trail was born on 9 January 1802 in the district of Rotherhithe in London as the
fifth daughter of Thomas Strickland and Elizabeth Home. After her father passed away in 1818,
Catherine started her writing along with her sisters which was the main source of income for
their family. During her career Catherine written books like “The tell-tale”, Disobedience and
Happy Because Good which were particularly written for the children. In 1832, after getting
married with Lieutenant Thomas Trail who was a retired officer from Napoleonic wars. Soon
after marriage, the couple moved to Upper Canada and settled near Peterborough. While living in
Upper Canada Catherine used to write letters and journals which described her new journey in
Peterborough. She had written a book called Backwoods of Canada in which she described her
everyday life in that area, relationship between Canadians and Americans, about indigenous
people and the climate. This book was an important source of information for the people who
want to know about Upper Canada1.
The Backwoods of Canada is a collection or series of letters that was written by Catherine to her
mother. These letters described her hardships and journey of living in Upper Canada and also
about the dreams Catherine was having while living there. The book describes the experiences of
Catherine from a privileged middle class women to a hard working Canadian. Catherine lived a
life of luxury before migrating to Upper Canada. He had to go through challenges and hardships
while living there2. Therefore, she described her entire journey in the form of letters in which her
different experiences were explained. Her some of the letters are described in following paths.
In the first letter, Catherine described her voyage details and the luxury she was getting while
travelling Laurel which was not a regular ship. In that ship, there was handsome sofa with
crimson draperies and Catherine and her husband were charged fifteen pounds each including all
other expenses too which was very high. She also explained about one more passenger who was
travelling along with them. That passenger was captain’s nephew who was singing song that was
1 Trail Catherine Parr, The Backwoods of Canada, (Canada: New Canadian Library, 1836).
2 Gerson Carole, The Backwoods of Canada, (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000), 256-257.

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describing his homesick heart. Apart from this, she also described the scenery of Clyde as she
loved to watch the wanderers of the ocean throughout the sail3.
In the Catherine’s second letter, her feelings related to the surrounding of the voyage was
described when reached to New found land. She described her whole journey and the experience
of travelling in that voyage and she also loved the scenery of the green Island. She was then
departed to Quebec.
Third letter describes the entire experience of Catherine when she was leaving Quebec. Further,
she described her voyage journey a pleasant one. The temperature was warm like the delightful
summer in Britain. She also described the fields of Indian corn and tobacco that she had seen in
the bank of the river. She also enjoyed the view of pleasant rural villages.
In the fourth letter, Catherine describes that she was disappointed by the acquaintance of
Montreal when she first reached there. She had heard so much about Montreal by the travelers
and could only compare with the fruits of dead-sea which were bitter when tasted by thirsty
travelers. She had a bad impression of Montreal as she also heard from Mr. Talbot who is living
there since last five years that shops are closed on Sunday and therefore it is impossible to walk
on the streets of Montreal4. According to Catherine “The weather is sultry hot, accompanied by
frequent thunder-showers, which have not the effect one would expect, that of cooling the heated
atmosphere”.5
In the fifth letter, Catherine’s journey from Cobourg to Amherst was described. While settling in
backwoods, she faced various difficulties. She faced the barriers and initiated her journey to
Peterborough. After reaching she realized her log house was not yet finished. Being the first
settlement on the land Catherine and her husband had to face many difficulties which were same
for all the residents living there. In that place, there were bad roads, break-up of the snow, ox-
cart as the only transportation. These things created inconvenience. However, the conditions are
becoming better.
3 Canadian, ElectricCanadian.com., (2019).
4 Thompson Elizabeth, The Backwoods of Canada, (Canada: Pioneer, 1994).
5 Trail Catherine Parr, The Backwoods of Canada, (Canada: New Canadian Library, 1836).

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Sixth letter of Catherine to her mother depicts the winter of Upper Canada. Her mother was little
concerned about her daughter that how she would cope with the winter. But Catherine enjoyed
her winter days very well. She described the natural greenery and the snow on bright sunny day
seemed beautiful6. At the end of May 1834, the gardens were full of greenery as the woods got
cleared and full of beautiful flowers. The famous line from the book was “The hepatica is the
first flower of Canadian Spring”7.
In seventh letter she described her health status as she was not well due to malaria. As the
summer begins, the snow melts which is there in the below of the kitchen which led to the
dangerous mosquitos. Her two nurses Quinine and Calomel took care of her and helped her to
recover for which she was thankful to them. She also described that the summer was really hot
and dry which led to the sickness. Apart from this, Catherine showed her love for winter in her
letter and also described the winter as the healthiest season of the year.
In the eighth letter, Catherine lightened the features of spring season. She described sugar
making took place. She built a large kitchen, the root house and the dairy. Catherine also
described the various difficulties that she faced while obtaining the provisions and other
necessaries. She described about the snow-storm and also Indian summer and hurricanes.
In all her letters she described her experience while living in Upper Canada. She enjoyed the
views for green lands, fresh environment and beautiful view of winter and warm winter. She
faced various difficulties while reaching the destination but she overcame with all the hurdles.
She elaborated her experience with different phases that she faced in Upper Canada with the
plantation, recovering from malaria and maintaining a wooden house with beautiful garden
greenery. The condition of small villages in Upper Canada is improving day by day. In the city,
there are problems of transportation and have bad roads but it is improving.
Catherine gives advice to the Canadian that the people migrated to Upper Canada must take care
in summer as they can face serious diseases like malaria and jaundice when the snow melts in
summer. But the winter is extremely beautiful. In the book, the author described seasons and
6 Fraser Joshua, The Backwoods of Canada, (Canada: Francis parkman, 1908).
7 Trail Catherine Parr, The Backwoods of Canada, (Canada: New Canadian Library, 1836).

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climatic changes that the Upper Canada and she elaborated the impact of climatic changes on the
life of people living in the city.
Thus, the book is the overview of the Catherine’s experiences that she had while living into the
city. From her account, it can be learnt that the life of Upper Canadians is hard. People who
migrated to the city had to bear difficulties and problems due to lack of transportation and
pathetic roads. Apart from this, Catherine had many good experiences as well. She enjoyed her
voyage journey with her husband. She got to experience the beauty of the nature while travelling.
Therefore, it can be said that the life of Upper Canada is hard but if one can overcome the
hurdles can experience the best days by living in the city.

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Bibliography
Traill, Catherine Parr . 1836. The Backwoods of Canada: Being Letters from the Wife of an
Emigrant Officer. Canada: New Canadian Library.
Canadian, Electric . n.d. "Backwood of canada." ElectricCanadian.com. Accessed June 25, 2019.
https://www.electriccanadian.com/pioneering/backwoods/index.htm.
Fraser, Joshua . 1908. Shanty, Forest and River Life in the Backwoods of Canada. Canada:
Francis parkman.
Gerson, Carole . n.d. " The Backwoods of Canada by Catharine Parr Traill (review) ." 255-257.
Thompson, Elizabeth . 1994. Illustrations for The Backwoods of Canada. Canada: Pioneer.
Trail, Catherine. n.d. "Backwoods of Canada C-7201." Townsends.us. Accessed June 25, 2019.
https://www.townsends.us/products/backwoods-of-canada.
—. 1885. Studies of Plant Life in Canada: Or, Gleanings from Forest, Lake and Plain. Newyork:
Cambridge press.