# Travel Essays — Character guide

> Key figures in Travel Essays by Robert Louis Stevenson.

- [Modestine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/modestine.md): A small, mouse-coloured donkey with the patience of a saint and the will of a mule, she carries the narrator and his packs across the Cévennes.
- [Alick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/alick.md): A Scottish servant whose name the narrator calls out on the road, he belongs to the familiar world of home that the traveller has left behind.
- [Rufe Hanson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/rufe_hanson.md): A hunter and neighbour in the half-abandoned mining settlement of Silverado, he is more often absent than found, a rumour of a man.
- [Irvine Lovelands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/irvine_lovelands.md): A fellow traveller whose path briefly crosses the narrator's, he is one of the many strangers who flash through the Toll House and vanish.
- [Du Chayla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/du_chayla.md): The archpriest of the Cévennes whose persecution of Protestant peasants helped ignite the Camisard rebellion, he haunts the region's history.
- [The Arethusa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_arethusa.md): A personified ship or boat featured in a narrative episode.
- [Mackay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mackay.md): A Scottish figure, possibly a historical or literary reference with narrative presence.
- [The Camisards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_camisards.md): Protestant rebels of the Cévennes who rose against royal persecution, their fierce faith and mountain warfare echo through the valleys the narrator walks.
- [The Priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_priest.md): A Catholic clergyman encountered during the travels.
- [The Cigarette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_cigarette.md): A peddler or character met on the canal journey.
- [Mr. Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mr_jones.md): An acquaintance or fellow traveler in the narrative.
- [Mr. Kelmar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/kelmar.md): Kelmar is the rural merchant whose credit binds half the settlers within miles of Calistoga into permanent, unpayable obligation — a family friend who dines at their tables and dictates their business. His sudden warmth 
- [Mrs. Hanson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mrs_hanson.md): Wife of Rufe Hanson, part of the hunter's family.
- [Gaston Lafenestre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/gaston_lafenestre.md): A French acquaintance met during the travels.
- [Smethurst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/smethurst.md): A character encountered in the later essays, possibly an engineer.
- [Mr. Commissary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mr_commissary.md): A French official encountered during the canal journey.
- [Mr. Ronalds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mr_ronalds.md): An acquaintance encountered during the travels.
- [Burns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/burns.md): Likely Robert Burns, referenced as a literary figure in the Scottish essays.
- [Father Michael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/father_michael.md): A monk at the Trappist monastery of Our Lady of the Snows.
- [Mr. McEckron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mr_mceckron.md): A Scottish character mentioned in the Edinburgh or travel sections.
- [Clarisse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/clarisse.md): A female character mentioned in the French travel sections.
- [Tom Bowling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/tom_bowling.md): A sailor or nautical character referenced in the essays.
- [Barney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/barney.md): A character mentioned in the travel narratives.
- [Mr. Dennis Kearney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mr_dennis_kearney.md): A historical figure, possibly a politician or agitator in California.
- [Foss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/foss.md): A notable character, possibly a performer or eccentric.
- [The Officer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_officer.md): A military or police officer encountered during travels.
- [Indians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/indians.md): Native Americans encountered during the American travel sections.
- [The Archpriest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_archpriest.md): A Catholic official in the Cévennes, likely Du Chayla.
- [The Hansons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_hansons.md): The Hanson family, neighbors in the Silverado community.
- [Silverado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/silverado.md): Silverado is an abandoned camp of shafts, tunnels, and a battered mill, its population reduced to Rufe Hanson and a family of squatters. Its silence holds two rival stories — one of six hundred thousand dollars pulled fr
- [Salomon Couderc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/salomon_couderc.md): A French peasant or farmer encountered in the Cévennes.
- [Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mary.md): A female figure, possibly historical or a local woman.
- [Castanet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/castanet.md): A Camisard leader mentioned in the historical narrative.
- [Mr. Schram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mr_schram.md): A cheerful acquaintance met during the travels.
- [Madame Gilliard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/madame_gilliard.md): A French woman encountered during the journey.
- [The Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_doctor.md): A medical professional encountered during travels.
- [Old Edinburgh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/old_edinburgh.md): The personified city of Edinburgh in the descriptive essays.
- [Captain Poul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/captain_poul.md): A ship captain or nautical figure.
- [Master Sam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/master_sam.md): A young boy or servant mentioned in the narratives.
- [Major Weir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/major_weir.md): A historical Scottish figure, a warlock or covenanter.
- [Father Apollinaris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/father_apollinaris.md): A monk at the Trappist monastery of Our Lady of the Snows.
- [Cavalier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/cavalier.md): A Camisard leader in the Cévennes uprising.
- [Fanny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/fanny.md): A female companion, possibly the narrator's wife.
- [Séguier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/seguier.md): A Camisard prophet or leader in the Cévennes.
- [The Chinese](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_chinese.md): Chinese immigrants encountered in California.
- [The Americans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_americans.md): American people encountered during the transcontinental journey.
- [Joe Strong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/joe_strong.md): A resident of the Silverado mining community.
- [Father Adam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/father_adam.md): A monk or religious figure at the monastery.
- [Mr. Corwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mr_corwin.md): An acquaintance in the California sections.
- [Robert Fergusson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/robert_fergusson.md): A Scottish poet referenced in the Edinburgh essays.
- [George Sand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/george_sand.md): The French writer, referenced as a literary figure.
- [Père Apollinaire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/pere_apollinaire.md): A French priest encountered during the travels.
- [Vasquez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/vasquez.md): A character, possibly a bandit or historical figure in California.
- [M. Hector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/m_hector.md): A French gentleman encountered during the journey.
- [The English](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_english.md): English people encountered during the travels.
- [O'Reilly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/o_reilly.md): A young Irishman encountered during the travels.
- [Irish Tommy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/irish_tommy.md): An Irish character met during the journey.
- [The Mexicans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_mexicans.md): Mexican people encountered in California.
- [The Judge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_judge.md): A legal official encountered during the travels.
- [Samson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/samson.md): A Chinese merchant or character in California.
- [M. de Vauversin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/m_de_vauversin.md): A French aristocrat encountered during the travels.
- [John Knox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/john_knox.md): The Scottish reformer, referenced in the Edinburgh essays.
- [Abramina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/abramina.md): A female character mentioned in the travel narratives.
- [Mr. Jennings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mr_jennings.md): A cheerful acquaintance met during the travels.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters