Although Miller does not give her name, the artist claims this sketch represents a particular woman who married one of the men in the caravan: “the outfit he gave her on his departure for the beaver hunt was gorgeous and dazzling; –he (as was most usually the case in such circumstances) pledging his services to the American Fur Co., for 3 years to pay the debt incurred by his extravagance.”
Miller notes that this woman was particularly beautiful, having the desired attributes of “rich bronze complexion” and “extremely glossy” hair. Miller captures the glossiness with alternating bands of black, gray, and white. As with other depictions of Indian women who were said to be beautiful (A Young Woman of the Flathead Tribe, CR# 300, and The Trapper’s Bride, CR# 459), this young woman possesses Anglo-American attributes, such as rounded cheeks and chin, and light-colored eyes.
