David Thompson was a Canadian surveyor and explorer, born in London on
April 30, 1770. At age 14 he studied under Hudson Bay Co. In 1784, the western
Canada map was mostly blank. After 1797, he joined the Montreal-based Northwest
Co.There he had greater reign. In 1807, he discovered the source of the
Columbia River. Later he explored the south border of Canada. He traveled
more than 80,000 miles. He also wrote journals which were the source of
his travels. Often they saw David Thompson gazing at the stars for a long
time. That is why the indians called him Koo-Koo-Sint, meaning the man who
watches stars. He tried to tell them that he was only trying to determine
direction and distance of the places he explored, but the Canadians and
Indians didn't believe him. They thought he was looking into the future."For
we all believe the great spirit speaks to you in the night when you are
looking at the moon and the stars, and tells you of what we know nothing,"
quoted in National Geographic.
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