DCHP-1 Online
head guide 
v. Fur Trade, Hist. the man in charge of a brigade.
See also: brigade conductor (def. 1) guide ((n.)) (def. 1)
- 1921 The head guide was chosen on account of his being an old steersman who knew the route well, was a good judge of both water and weather, and being a good fighter, could if occasion arose enforce his orders with a dose of elbow grease.
- 1935 The head guide brings out the tobacco ration, and while the canoes cluster around he distributes to every man half a plug of the Hudson's Bay Imperial twist tobacco.
- 1921 The head guide was chosen on account of his being an old steersman who knew the route well, was a good judge of both water and weather, and being a good fighter, could if occasion arose enforce his orders with a dose of elbow grease.