USA > Alaska > History of Alaska : 1730-1885 > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
own timidity could not prevail against the ambitious courage of Maurelle and Cuadra, who insisted that some further discoveries must be attempted before relinquishing so costly an expedition. Tercera Expl., in Viagesal Norte, MS., 117. 4" In the journals this mountain was described as bearing a striking resem- blance to the Orizaba of Mexico and the peak of Teneriffe. Viages al Norte, MS., 120. A map of the anchorage is still in existence, pasted in at the end of the manuscript entitled Azanza, Ynstruccion, etc. This map represents the islands of the Cape Elizabeth group-Tzukli of the Russians-and the adjoining coast of the Kenai peninsula, but, though correct in its contours, with the exception of representing the mainland as islands-Ysla de Mau- relle in the north and Ysla de San Bruno in the east-it does not correspond in its details with the narrative contained in Viages al Norte. There is a dis- crepancy even between the map and the legend, the latter stating that 'lia- viendose tomado segdo posesion en la Ysla de San Antonio,' but no such island is on the chart. The projecting points of the mainland are named as stated above; the island containing Cape Elizabeth was named Ysla de San Aniceto, and the smaller islands and rocks el Sombrero, de Ayala, de San Angel, de Arriaga, la Monja, los Frailes. The point where possession was taken is marked with a cross on the N. w. point of San Aniceto. The open- ing between the latter and the mainland is named ensenada de Nuestra Señora de la Regla. The latitude is correctly given as 59° 8', the long. 49° 11' w. of San Blas. Azanza, Ynstruccion, etc.
.
221
ARTEAGA'S ACHIEVEMENTS.
all that may be affected by Cook's prior discovery, the careful survey of Bucareli Sound, in connection with Heceta's and Cuadra's prior explorations, presents a basis for Spain's claims to the coast region to lati- tude 58° so far as relative right of discovery is con- cerned, attended by the ceremony of taking possession. A little more energy or ambition on Arteaga's part would have led to a meeting with the Russians and made the subsequent expedition of Martinez and Haro unnecessary.50
The viceroy of Mexico declared himself highly pleased with the results of the voyage, and advanced one step the rank of all the officers on both vessels. At the same time he stated that no further discoveries in a northerly direction would be undertaken for the present.51
50 The sloop Kliment, belonging to the Panof Company, was cruising about Kadiak at the very time of Arteaga's presence at La Regla. Berg, Khronol. Ist., 104.
51 Cartas de los Excelentisimos Sres Vireyes don Antonio Bucareli, don Mar- tin de Mayorga, etc., in Viages al Norte, MS., etc., 126-7.
CHAPTER XI.
COLONIZATION AND THE FUR-TRADE.
1783-1787.
FIRST ATTEMPTED SETTLEMENT OF THE RUSSIANS IN AMERICA-VOYAGE OF GRIGOR SHELIKOF-PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RUSSIANS AT KADIAK-RETURN OF SHELIKOF-HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO SAMOILOF, COL- ONIAL COMMANDER-THE HISTORIC SABLE AND OTTER-SKINS AS CUR- RENCY-TRAPPING AND TRIBUTE-COLLECTING-METHOD OF CONDUCTING THE HUNT-REGULATIONS OF THE PEREDOVCHIKI-GOD'S SABLES AND MAN'S-REVIEW OF THE FUR-TRADE ON THE COASTS OF ASIA AND AMER- ICA-PERNICIOUS SYSTEM INTRODUCED BY THE PROMYSHLENIKI-THE CHINA MARKET -FOREIGN RIVALS AND THEIR METHOD-ABUSE OF NATIVES-COOK'S AND VANCOUVER'S OPINIONS OF COMPETITION WITH THE RUSSIANS-EXTIRPATION OF ANIMALS.
WE enter here a new epoch of Alaska history. Hitherto all has been discovery, exploration, and the hunting of fur-bearing animals, with little thought of permanent settlement. But now Grigor Ivanovich Shelikof comes to the front as the father and founder of Russian colonies in America.1
1 One of the chief authorities for this period of Alaska history, and indeed the only full account of Shelikof's visit to America, is a work written by him- self and published after his death. It is entitled Grigoria Shelikhora Stran- stvoranie, etc., or Grigor Shelikof's Journeys from 1783 to 1787, from Okhotsk to the Eastern Ocean and the Coast of America, with a prodolshenie, or contin- uation. Printed at St Petersburg in 1792-3, 12mo, with maps. In 1793 both of these books were translated by one J. J. Logan into English and pub- lished in one Svo volume at St Petersburg. Pallas printed a German trans- lation, chiefly remarkable for inaccuracies, in his Nord. Beitr., vi. 165-249. And still another German translation appeared in Busse's Journal für Russ- land, 1794, i. Shelikof's first volume contains voluminous descriptions of the Aleutian Islands, with whole passages, and even pages, identical in every respect with corresponding passages in the anonymous German Neue Nach- richten, the authorship of which I ascribe to J. L. Schlözer. It is safe to assume that Shelikof had access to this work published some 20 years before his own, and used it in writing his own volume. Shelikof's book was repub- lished in one volume, without maps, in 1812, under title of Puteshestvie G. Shelikhova 1783-1790. It seems that the directors of the Russian American
(222 )
223
GRIGORIA SHELIKHOVA STRANSVOVANIE.
In 1783 the company of Siberian merchants of which Shelikof and Ivan Golikof were the principal share- holders, finished three ships at Okhotsk for operating on a larger scale in the region then designated as the ostrova, or the islands. The ships were the Trekh Sviatiteli, Three Saints, the Su Simeon, and the Sv Mikhaïl. On the 16th of August they sailed with one hundred and ninety-two men in all, the largest force which had hitherto left the Siberian coast at one time. Shelikof and his wife,2 who accompanied her husband in all his travels, were on the Trekh Sviatiteli, com- manded by Ismaïlof. The first part of the voyage was stormy, the wind contrary, and the ships were unable to leave the sea of Okhotsk, but on the 2d of September the squadron anchored near the second Kurile island, for the purpose of watering, and then passed safely into the Pacific. On the 12th a gale separated the vessels, and after prolonged and futile efforts to find the Sv Mikhail, Shelikof concluded to pass the winter on Bering Island with the two other vessels. Thanks to the enforcement of wise regula- tions framed by Shelikof, the crews suffered but little from scurvy, and in June of the following year the expedition steered once more to the eastward. A few stoppages were made on Copper, Atkha, and other islands, with a longer stay at Unalaska, where the two ships were repaired, and refitted with water and pro-
Company resented the publication of the book. In the 'Secret Instructions' forwarded to Baranof in 1802 occurs the following reference to this subject: 'You must send your communications to the chief administration direct, and not to Okhotsk, since the company has very little to do with provincial authorities, and also because the government at present has many views con- cerning America that must be kept a profound secret, being confided only to you as chief manager. Therefore it is not proper to forward such information through the government authorities at Irkutsk, where no secret could be preserved. As a proof of this may serve you the endorsed book of Grigor Shelikof's Travels. It is nothing but his journals transmitted to governor general Jacobi, on whose retirement it was stolen from the chancellery by Mr Piel, and printed against the will of the deceased. Consequently secrets of state were exposed. I refer to the location of tablets claiming possession of the country for Russia.' Sitka Archives, MS., Con. I., 1-21.
2 Shelikof, Putesh., i. 2. Natalia Shelikof was possessed of great energy and business capacity. After her husband's death she managed for many years not only her own but the company's business. T'ikhmenef, Istor. Obos., ii., app. 108-13.
224
COLONIZATION AND THE FUR-TRADE.
visions. The Simeon had been separated from her consort during the voyage along the Aleutian chain, but she made her appearance in the harbor a few days after the arrival of the Sviatiteli. Shelikof obtained two interpreters and ten Aleutian hunters, and leaving instructions for the guidance of the Sv Mikhail he shaped his course for the island of Kikhtak, subse- quently named Kadiak.3 The voyage was devoid of incident, and on the 3d of August 1784 the two ships entered a capacious bay on the south-east coast of the island, between cape Barnabas and the two-headed cape of Cook, and anchored in its westernmost branch, naming it after the ship Trekh Sviatiteli, Three Saints.4 Armed parties of promyshleniki were sent out in boats and bidars to search for natives, but only one succeeded, and brought news that a large body of aboriginals had been found. They had avoided a meeting, however, and it was not until the following day that another exploring party returned with one of the natives. Shelikof treated the captive kindly, loaded him with presents, and allowed him to return to his people. On the 5th there was an eclipse of the sun which lasted an hour and a half, and caused much uneasiness among the natives, who naturally con- nected the phenomenon with the appearance of the Russians.5
3 Shelikof, Putesh., i. 36. Kikhtak, or Kikhtowik, is the Innuit word for island. At the present day the natives of the peninsula speak of the Kadiak people simply as Kikhtagamutes, islanders. The tribal name appears to have been Kaniag and the Russian appellation now in use was probably derived from both. Glottof first landed and wintered on the island in 1763, after which it was several times visited.
4 The shores of Three Saints Harbor are generally steep and rocky, but about a mile from its entrance a gravelly bar or spit from the southern side forms a horseshoe, opening into the interior of the bay. Such locations were peculiarly adapted to the requirements of the Russians at that time. The small land-locked basin formed by the spit was deep enough for suchı vessels as they had; the shelving shore enabled them to beach their vessels during winter and to utilize them as ·dwellings or fortifications, while the level sandbar afforded convenient building sites. The adjoining hills and mountains being devoid of timber, there was no danger of surprise from the land, and water enclosed three sides of the settlement.
5 Shelikof, Putesh., i. 51. It has been hinted that Shelikof used this little incident in imitation of the Spanish discoverer of America, to impress the savages with his occult powers. The one who had been so kindly received
225
SHELIKOF'S VISIT.
Another exploring party was sent out on the 7th with instructions to select hunting-grounds, and if possible to circumnavigate the island and observe its coasts. After two days, when about ten leagues from the anchorage, this expedition fell in with a large party of savages who had taken up a position on a kekour,8 or detached cliff, near the shore, surrounded by water. An interpreter was at once sent forward to open friendly intercourse, but the islanders told the mes- senger to inform the Russians that if they wished to escape with their lives they should leave the island at once. The natives could not be persuaded to abandon this hostile attitude, and the exploring party returned to the harbor to report.
Shelikof at once proceeded to the spot with all the men that could be spared from the encampment, but when he reached the scene he found the savages in formidable numbers and full of courage. Peaceful overtures were still continued,7 but were wholly lost on the savages. Arrows began to fly, and the Rus- sians retired to the ships to prepare for defence. Not long afterward the Koniagas stole upon the Russian camp one dark night, and began a desperate fight which lasted till daylight, when the savages took to flight.8 But this was by no means the end of it. From his Koniaga friend Shelikof learned that his people were only awaiting reinforcements to renew the attack. He accordingly determined to anticipate them by possessing himself at once of their strong-
returned voluntarily in a few days and did not leave Shelikof again as long as the latter remained on the island.
6 Such places, to which the Russians applied the Kamchatka name of kekour, were often used by the natives as natural fortifications and places of refuge. War parties or hunting expeditions would leave their women and. children upon such cliffs for safe-keeping till their return.
7 In Shelikof's journal, which was published after his death, the number of natives was given at 4,000, but one tenth would be ncarer the truth. In his official report to the governor of eastern Siberia no figures are given. Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 8; Shelikof, Putesh., i. 10, 11. Lissianski was in- formed in 1804 by a native eye-witness that only 400 men, women, and chil- dren were on the kekour. Liss. Voy., 180.
8 Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 9; Shelikof, Putesh., i. 113-16. Shelikof reports this affair as having occurred on the 12th of August.
HIST. ALASKA. 15
226
COLONIZATION AND THE FUR-TRADE.
hold on the rocky islet. A small force of picked pro- myshleniki approached the enemy in boats. A heavy shower of spears fell on them; but the havoc made by a few discharges of grape from the falconet aimed at the huts caused great consternation, and a general stampede followed, during which many were killed, while a large number lost their lives by jumping over the precipice, and as Shelikof claims, over one thou- sand were taken prisoners.9 The casualties on the side of the Russians were confined to a few severe and many trifling wounds. Shelikof claims that he retained four hundred of the prisoners, allowing the remainder to go to their homes, and they were held not as regular captives, but in a kind of temporary subjection. "At their own desire," as Shelikof puts it, "they were located fifty versts away from the har- bor without any Russian guards, simply furnishing hostages as a guarantee of good faith and good be- havior." The hostages consisted of children who were to be educated by the Russians.10
Nor was this second battle the end of native efforts for life and liberty. Attacks still occurred from time to time, generally upon detached hunting or explora- tion parties, but in each case the savages were re- pulsed with loss. The promptness with which they were met evidently destroyed their confidence in themselves, arising from their easy victory over the first Russian visitors.
Meanwhile no time was lost in pushing prepara-
9 Shelikof, Putesh., i. 18. Says Shelikof in his journal: 'I do not boast of the shedding of blood, but I am sure that we killed some of our assailants. I endeavored to find out the number, but failed because they carried their dead with them and threw them into the sea.' Compare Tehitchinof's Ad- ventures, MS., 36-7; Sokolof's Markof's Voy., MS., 7-9.
10 Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 10. Shelikof writes: 'I retained 400 pris- oners, furnished them with provisions and all necessary appliances for trap- ping and hunting, and placed them in charge of a native named Kaskak.' Putesh., i. 18, 19. The same name of Kaskak oceurs in the narrative of a native of Kadiak collected by Holmberg, relating to the first landing of Rus- sians on Kadiak Island, 20 years prior to Shelikof's arrival. Sauer writes eight years later that 200 young females were then kept as liostages. A party of wonien had once been captured and retained, though wives were exchanged for daughters. He places the population of the island at 3,500. Billings' Voy., 171.
227
EDUCATION AND RELIGION.
tions for permanent occupancy of the island. In a few weeks dwelling-houses and fortifications were erected by the expert Russian axemen, and Shelikof took care to furnish his own residence with all the comforts and a few of the luxuries of civilization, such as he could collect from the two vessels, in order to inspire the savage breast with respect for superior culture. And, indeed, as time passed by, the chasm dividing savage and civilized was filled, the Koniagas ascending in some respects and the Russians descend- ing. The natives watched with the greatest curiosity the construction of houses and fortifications after the Russian fashion, until they voluntarily offered to assist. A school was conducted by Shelikof in person; he endeavored to teach both children and adults the Russian language and arithmetic, and to sow the seeds of Christianity. According to his account he turned forty heathens into Christians dur- ing his sojourn on Kadiak; but we may presume that their knowledge of the faith did not extend beyond the sign of the cross, and perhaps repeating a few words of the creed without the slightest understand- ing of its meaning. So that when the pious colonist asserts that the converts began at once to spread the new religion among their countrymen we may con- clude that he is exaggerating.11
As soon as possible Shelikof turned his attention once more to the exploration of the island. A party of fifty-two promyshleniki and eleven Aleuts from the Fox Islands went to the north and north-east in four large bidars, accompanied by one hundred and ten Koniagas in their own bidarkas. This was in May 1785. The object of the expedition was to make the acquaintance of the inhabitants of the adjoining
11 Shelikof dwells at length upon his efforts to induce the Koniagas to become subjects of Russia, and claims to have met with success. He also planted vegetables, but could not prevail upon the Kadiak people to eat or cultivate them. Train-oil and fish pleased them better. Putesh, i. 30-2; Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 11; Grewingk, Beitr., 323; Pallas, Nord. Beitr., i. 170.
228
COLONIZATION AND THE FUR-TRADE.
islands and the mainland. After a cruise in Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet, the party returned in August with a small quantity of furs, yet report- ing a not unfriendly reception, and bringing twenty hostages from the latter place. If we consider the hostile attitude assumed by the same people two years before toward Zaïkof, we must credit Shelikof with good management. On their return all proceeded for the winter to Karluk, where salmon abounded.12 From this point and from the original encampment on Three Saints Bay, detachments of promyshleniki explored the coast in all directions during the winter, notably along the Alaska peninsula, learning of Ili- amna Lake and of the different portage routes to the west side.
Despite all precautions the scurvy broke out in the Russian camps and carried off numbers, but instead of taking advantage of the weakened condition of the Russians, the natives willingly assisted in obtaining fresh provisions. One exception to this good under- standing occurred on the island of Shuiak, situated north of Afognak. A quantity of goods had been in- trusted by one of Shelikof's agents to the chief of Shuiak, to purchase furs during the winter. When asked for a settlement he not only refused but killed the messengers. An expedition was sent in the spring which succeeded in bringing the recreant chief to terms, and in establishing fortified stations on Cook Inlet and Afognak.13
On the 25th of February 1786 Shelikof received a letter from Eustrate Delarof, who was then at Una- laska, stating that the ship Sv Mikhail, which had been separated from Shelikof's squadron in a gale, had arrived at that place the previous May. She
12 Karluk, situated on the west coast of Kadiak, is a settlement upon the river of the same name, which furnishes a larger quantity of salmon than any other stream of its size in Alaska. See Cartog. Pac. States, MS., iii. passim. 13 A war party of 1,000 men of the Chugatsches and Kenais which had been summoned by the Shuiak chief, to attempt the destruction of Shelikof's set- tlement, also dispersed before it was fully organized. Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 12, 13; Shelikof, Putesh., i. 51-3; Pallas, Nord. Beitr., vi. 185-6.
229
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS.
reached the port minus one mast and otherwise dam- aged, and repairs to the vessel occupied nearly the whole summer. When at last ready for sea she was cast upon the rocks and injured to such an extent as to require additional repairs. Despairing of getting off the Sv Mikhail that season, Delarof despatched thirteen men divided into several detachments as messengers to Kadiak in search of assistance. Six of them succumbed to cold and hunger during a deten- tion of many weeks on the Alaska peninsula, and five more died after reaching Kadiak. Soon after this the craft arrived at Three Saints, and the commander, Assistant Master Olessof, who had been three years making the voyage from Okhotsk to Kadiak, was de- posed and the peredovchik Samoilof invested with the control of both vessels, one of which was to cruise northward and eastward from Kadiak and the other westward and northward, if possible as far as Bering Strait.
Early in March Shelikof despatched an exploring party eastward with orders to proceed to Bering's Cape St Elias, and to erect a fort as the beginning of a settlement. He resolved to abandon the fort on Cook Inlet as too far removed from his base of opera- tion, and to enlarge the fortified station on Afognak Island, besides establishing several others.14 These and other arrangements made, Shelikof prepared to return to Okhotsk, and the peredovchik, Samoilof, formerly a merchant in Siberia, was appointed to the command of the infant colony. His instructions de- manded above all the extension of Russian control and establishments eastward and south, and the ex- clusion of rival traders.15
14 Shelikof, Putesh., i. 57; Pallas, Nord. Beitr., vi. 186. See Juvenal's Jour., MS., 27-8.
15 These instructions dated May 4, 1786, were printed in the original crude form, in the appendix to Tikhmenef, Istoricheskaia Obosranie, ii. The docu- ment contains much that is highly interesting. The small number of Russians assigned to each isolated station makes it evident that Shelikof was not appre- hensive of renewed hostilities on the part of the natives, and confirms the suspi- cion that his previous reports of their number, bravery, and fierce disposition
230
COLONIZATION AND THE FUR-TRADE.
Shelikof took his departure in May, accompanied by a number of native adults and children, some to be retained and educated, others to be merely im- pressed with a view of Russian life and power. He landed at Bolsheretsk on the 8th of August, and thence proceeded to Petropavlovsk,16 and overland to
were exaggerated. Of 113 Russians then in the new colony, and 50 others ex- pected from Unalaska, he ordered the following disposition to be made: 40 men at the harbor of Three Saints; 11 at the bay of Ugak (Orlova); 30 on the islands of Shuiak and Afognak; 10 or 11 at either Uganak, Chiniak, or Aiakhtalsk; 30 at Karluk; 20 at Katmak (Katmai), and 11 at a station between Katmala and Kamuishak Bay. These trading-posts were separated from each other by long distances of land and water, and extended over hundreds of miles. The instructions further specify that 'immediately upon the arrival of reënforce- ments from Okhotsk, stations should be established in the Kenai and Chu- gatsch countries,' and 'with all possible despatch farther and farther along the coast of the American continent, and in a southerly direction to Califor- nia, establishing everywhere marks of Russian possession.' If expected reën- forcements failed to arrive, only three stations were to be maintained-at the harbor, Afognak, and Karluk. Paragraph 7 of the instructions announced that Shelikof would take with him to Okhotsk forty natives-adults and chil- dren of both sexes -- ' some in satisfaction of their own desire,' and others, ' prisoners from various settlements.' One third of these natives were to be returned by the same ship, after 'seeing the fatherland and observing our domestic life;' another third were to be forwarded to the court of her imperial Majesty; while the remainder, consisting chiefly of children, were to be edu- cated in Okhotsk or Irkutsk 'to enable them in the future to exercise a civil- izing influence among their countrymen.' Other paragraphs relate to the maintenance of the strictest discipline among the Russians ; the employment. of spies among the natives; to explorations and voyages of discovery south- ward to latitude 40°; the construction of buildings and fortified block-houses; the purchase of articles of native manufacture-garments, utensils, etc .; the collection of minerals, ores, and shells for transmission to St Petersburg; san- itary regulations to prevent scurvy; the collection of boys from 'latitude 50° in California, northward to Aliaska,' to be educated in the Russian language; the exclusion of other trading firms in this the country then occupied, 'by peaceable means, if possible;' the expulsion of worthless and vicious men from the company; the maintenance of a school at Three Saints, and other business details. The document furnishes strong evidence of Shelikof's far-sightedness, energy, ambition, and executive ability. After holding Samoilof responsible for the strict observance of these instructions, the writer signed himself : 'Grigor Shelikof, member of the company of Sea-voyagers in the Northern Ocean.' Three supplementary paragraphs contain directions for a 'minute survey ' by Bocharof of the island Kuiktak, the American coast from Katmak to the gulfs of Kenaï and Chugachuik, and ' if possible' around Kadiek [prob- ably Kyak, or Kayes, Island]. This is the first mention of the term Kadiek or Kadiak, subsequently applied to the island Kniktak, and to this mistake of Shelikof the origin of the present name may be traced.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.