USA > Alaska > History of Alaska : 1730-1885 > Part 32
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In pursuance of this report an imperial oukaz was issued September 28, 1788, granting the company exclusive control over the region actually occupied by them, but no further, thus leaving rival traders free sway in adjoining parts. Assistance from the public treasury was refused because of foreign wars. The empress was made to say: "As a reward for services rendered to the country by the merchants Shelikof and Golikof by discovering unknown countries and nations, and establishing commerce and industries there, we most graciously confer upon them both swords and gold medals, the latter to be worn around the neck, with our portrait on one side, and on the reverse an explanatory inscription that they have been conferred by order of the governing senate for services rendered to humanity by their noble and bold deeds." 6 By the same oukaz all former laws for the collection of tribute from the Aleuts were revoked.
5 Report of committee on commerce, March 1788. Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 237. It dwelt at length upon the sacrifices of Shelikof, and pointed to the fact that owing to the failure of a regular supply of valuable furs from Siberia and the islands the overland trade with China was interrupted, to the great loss of Russian merchants who had large sums invested in goods salable only in the Chinese market; while the articles previously imported from China directly into Russia and Poland, such as teas, silks, and nankeens, could be obtained only through foreign maritime nations at a great increase of cost.
6 A special letter of acknowledgement was issued by the sovereign on October 11th, which is printed in Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i., app., 1.
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While this was but a half-way measure toward his ambitious schemes Shelikof had to content himself for a time. He returned to Irtkutsk, there to fit out two vessels, one for the Aleutian isles, and one for the Kuriles, and to plan for a more complete victory, by which to become master of all Alaska.
Two important documents were issued in 1787 by the commander of Okhotsk, which indicate that the authorities by no means placed implicit faith in the humanity of the Shelikof Company or its servants. Both papers bear the same date, June 15th; and one is directed to navigators and traders, while the other is intended as a reassuring proclamation to the native chiefs as representatives of their people. The first sets forth that in view of many complaints of ill-treat- ment of Aleuts having reached Okhotsk, traders and navigators are enjoined to treat with the utmost kind- ness all Aleuts who have acknowledged themselves. Russian subjects, and not to carry them away from home without their free consent. The document concludes as follows: "The highest authorities have already been informed of all your former outrages committed upon the islanders, but they must cease henceforth, and you must endeavor to act in conform- ity with the wishes of our most gracious empress, who is anxious to give protection to every inhabitant of her dominions. Do not believe or flatter your- selves that your former deeds will escape punishment, but be convinced that sooner or later every transgres- sion of the laws of God or our monarch will meet with its due reward. I trust that these prescriptions will be observed at once, and you must not forget that it is the first duty of every faithful Russian subject to report any transgression of the laws which comes under his observation. To this I append my own signature and the seals of the province of Okhotsk and of the district of Nishekamchatsk, this 15th day of June 1787. Grigor Kozlof-Ugrenin, colonel and commander of the province of Okhotsk."
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PROCLAMATIONS OF THE OKHOTSK GOVERNOR.
The second document is at once characteristic of the empress and important in itself. I reproduce it in full in a note.7
7 ' To the Chiefs and People inhabiting the Aleutian Islands in the North- eastern Ocean, subjects of the Russian Empire: The Mother of her country, the great and wise Empress of the Imperial throne of All the Russias, Eka- terina Alexeïevna, having always at heart the welfare of her faithful subjects, extends her especial protection and attention to those nations who have but lately become subjects of the Russian Empire, and has deigned to instruct the present Governor-general of Irkutsk, Major-general and Cavalier Klichke, to send to our islands, by way of Kamchatka, and to the Kurile Islands, Russian medals, which have been forwarded to you. They were sent to you as proof of the motherly care of the Empress; and it was ordered that these medals should be given to those islanders who are already under control of the Russian crown, while at the same time it was intended to issue them also to such as wished to enter the Russian Empire hereafter. These medals will be distributed at every place where the Russian trading-vessels can land in safety, and thus they will protect you against ill-treatment not only by Rus- sian hunters, but at the hand of our allied powers who may visit your shores. From the latter you may feel entirely safe, for even if any foreign vessel should attempt to appropriate your islands to its own country, the sight of these medals of the Russian Empire would disperse all such thoughts, and if any disputes should arise they will be settled by friendly negotiations with these powers. As far as the Russian vessels are concerned that visit your islands for the purpose of trade and hunting the fur-bearing animals, I have already received through the hands of my officials at Kamchatka and Okhotsk several complaints, the first through Sergeant Alexeï Buynof, the second from the son of the chief of the Andreianof Islands, Izossim Polutof, and the third from the Alent of the Lissievski Islands, Toukoutan Ayougnin; from which complaints I have learned to my sorrow of the inhumanities inflicted upon you by our Russian trading-ships, of which the government up to this time had received no information; it was thought that no actual violation of the laws had taken place in those distant regions. But now your peti- tions have been forwarded by me to the highest authorities and I trust that you will before long receive full satisfaction. In the mean time I ask you to be content and not to doubt the kindness and justice of the great Empress of All the Russias who is sure to defend and protect you, knowing your sin- cere submission to her sceptre. You must show this order to all Russian ves- sels that visit you and it will protect you in so far that every inhabitant of your islands may remain in his village, and cannot be compelled to go to any other island unknown to him. But if one of you goes abroad with his free consent, he will be provided with food and clothing until the time of his re- turn, and the food shall be such as he has been accustomed to. If you believe that you have been ill-treated by any people belonging to the Russian Em- pire, or if you have suffered compulsion or injury at their hands, I advise you to take notice of their name and that of their ship, and what company of merchants they belong to, and in due time you can forward your complaints upon the matter, and upon satisfactory proof such men will be punished according to their offences and you will get satisfaction. Information has also reached me to the effect that the hunters receive from you furs of good qual- ity as tribute, but change them and forward poor skins to the Empress; therefore I advise you to mark such skins with special signs and tokens, mak- ing cuts or brands which cannot be easily changed, and if it is done in spite of these precautions the offenders will be punished very severely. Further- more I assure you of the continued protection and care of all the inhabitants of your islands by her most gracious Imperial Majesty and her supreme gov- ernment, as well as of the best wishes of the Commander of the Province of
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The new order of things established by Kozlof did not cause any immediate change in the demeanor of the Russian promyshleniki, and it is doubtful whether the humane document addressed to the natives was ever read or translated to one of them. Accord- ing to the testimony of Sarychef and Sauer, matters had not improved much when they visited the country several years later. Yet upon the few individuals who were then planning for a monopoly of the fur- trade in the Russian possessions on the American coast, the hints contained in the documents quoted were not lost. They recognized the fact that such boons as they craved from the government could be obtained only by the adoption of a policy of hu- manity and obedience to the laws, wholly different from the ruthless transactions of private traders. Shelikof, the shrewdest of all the plotters, had, as we have shown, originated this policy, and he lived long enough to see that so far as his plans were concerned it worked to perfection. His instructions to Samoilof, to whom he left the command of his colony on return- ing to Okhotsk, were admirably calculated to impress the reader with a sense of the wisdom, humanity, and
Okhotsk and the district and township of Nishnekamtchatsk. Signed the 15th day of June 1787, by Grigor Kozlof-Ugrenin.'
Three copies still extant of the original document bear the following sig- natures: 'Have read the original. Master Gavril Pribylof.' 'Have read the copy. Master Potap Zaïkof.' 'Have read the copy. Foreman Leontiy Na- gaief.'
When Kozlof-Ugrenin issued his two manifestoes he had not met La Pė- rouse and the other officers of the French north-western expedition, for the Boussole and Astrolabe did not reach the bay of Avatcha until September, 1787. La Pérouse and M. de Lesseps, his Russian interpreter, testify to the excellent character of Ugrenin, who appears to have been actuated by a sincere desire to improve the condition of all the inhabitants, Russians and savages, of the vast province under his command. At that time the govern- ment of that region was organized as follows: Since Cook's visit to Kamchatka the country had been attached to the province of Okhotsk, under one gov- ernor, Colonel Kozlof-Ugrenin; under him Captain Shmalef was superintend- ent of the native Kamchatkans; Lieutenant Kaborof commanded at Petro- pavlovsk, with one sergeant and 40 Cossacks; at Nishnekamtchatsk there was a Major Eleonof, while at Bolsheretzk and Verkhneïkamchatsk only ser- geants were in command. The income derived from Kamchatka by the gov- ernment was out of all proportion to the expenditure involved. In 1787 the tribute collected from the natives amounted to 300 sable-skins, 200 gray and red foxes, and a few sea-otters, while nearly 400 soldiers and many officers were maintained in the country. La Pérouse, Voy., iii. 167-9, 202.
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SHELIKOF'S INSTRUCTIONS TO SAMOILOF.
disinterestedness of the writer,8 ordering as they did the good treatment of the natives, their instruction in Russian laws, customs, and religion, the establish- ment of schools for the young, and the promotion of discipline and morality among the Russians as an example to the aborigines. Much of this was in- tended chiefly for the sake of effect, since the com- pany by no means intended to expend any particular efforts for the advancement of the natives. The secret instructions to the same agent, though mainly verbal, contained clauses which indicated how far philanthropy was supposed to further the predomi- nant aim, the advancement of the company. For a
8 This remarkable document, of which I have given specimens, was dated the 14th of May 1786, and has been printed in full by Tikhmenef in the appendix to his second volume. Speaking of the natives of Kadiak and the Chugatsches, Shelikof says: 'In pacifying the inhabitants you should explain to them the benefits resulting from our laws and institutions, and tell them that people who become faithful and permanent subjects of the empress will be protected, while evil-disposed people shall feel the strength of her arm. When visiting the different stations you must investigate complaints against your subordinates by first hearing each party separately and then together. . . You will instruct them in building good houses, and in habits of economy and industry ... The school I have established for the instruction of native children in reading and writing Russian must be enlarged ... As soon as possible the sacred books and doctrines of our church should be translated into their language by capable translators ... I take with me to Siberia 40 natives, males and females, old and young. Some of these I will send back on the same ship, after showing them some of our villages, and the way we live at home, while a small number will be forwarded to the court of her imperial Majesty; the remaining children I will take with me to be instructed in the schools of Okhotsk and Irkutsk, and through them their families and tribes will acquire a better knowledge of our country and the laws and good order reigning there ... With regard to the officers and inen connected with the three vessels left in your care you will maintain good order and discipline among all classes, and strictly enforce obedience, as we cannot expect the natives to accept rules which we do not obey ourselves. . . Traffic with the Aleuts must be carried on in an honest manner, and cheating must be punished. Quarrels and disputes must be settled by arbitration. .. Hostages and native employés must be well treated, but should not be taken into our houses without your special permis- sion; serving-women must not be taken into our houses, unless for the purpose of sewing and similar work. .. Stores of provisions for at least two years must be kept at every station to enable you to assist the natives in times of famine. ... At all the forts warm and comfortable quarters must be erected for the Aleuts, and also stables for the cattle I have ordered to be shipped from Okhotsk ... My godson Nikolaï, who has always faithfully served the com- pany and whom I have fed and clothed at my own expense, I recommend to your special care, and hope that he will have no cause to complain of the company's treatment in return for his faithful services, and also that this god- son of mine may receive further instruction and be taught to respect God and the emperor, and the laws of God and of the country.' Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., ii., app., 8-19.
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time rival traders must be tolerated, but as soon as sufficient strength was acquired they should be ex- cluded from the districts occupied by the Shelikof men.9
Limited as were the plans with regard to actual execution, Samoilof lacked the qualifications to carry them out, or to grasp the real object of their framer, and Shelikof knew it. As soon as he returned from Kadiak, therefore, he began to look about for a proper person, and his choice fell on Alexander Baranof, a merchant then engaged in trade on the Anadir River. Shelikof's first proposals to Baranof were declined principally because his own business was moderately prosperous and he preferred independence. One of the partners of the company, Eustrate Delarof, a Greek,10 was then selected to manage affairs in the colony, but his powers were more local and confined
9 Article 24. 'If any other company sends out one or two ships and people to engage in the same trade with us, you must treat them in a friendly manner and assist them to do their business quickly and to leave again, giving them to understand at the same time at what an immense sacrifice we have established our stations and what risks we have run in pacifying the Ameri- cans, cautioning them not excite the natives by ill-treatment or cheating, which would cause little danger to them who are here only temporarily, but might easily cause the destruction of our establishments, extended all over this region at great risk and expense and to the greatest benefit of the country in general. But when I have sent out two more vessels well manned, in addition to the three now at your disposal, you must take a more resolute stand, drive off all intruders, and declare the Russian sovereignty over all the country on the American continent and California, down to the 40th degree of north latitude.' Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., ii., app., 16. Shelikof himself acted up to his ideas on the subject. In 1786 the ship Sv Pavel, belonging to the Lebedef-Lastochkin Company, came to Kadiak with 35 men, commanded by Peredovchik Kolomin. They were advised to move on, and told that there was an abundance of sea-otters in Cook Inlet. Kolomin followed the advice, and established the first permanent station on the mainland, a fact to which Shelikof took good care never to give any prominence before the government or the public. Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 30. Sauer writes in reference to this policy: 'Ever since Shelikof formed his establishment at Kadiak no other companies have dared to venture to the eastward of the Shumagin Islands. I am inclined to think that Lukhanin's vessel will be the last that will attempt to visit these islands for furs, and probably he will obtain hardly any other than foxes.' Geog. and Astron. Exped., 276.
10 Eustrate Ivanovich Delarof, a native of the Peloponese, established him- self as a merchant in Moscow and subsequently became a partner in firms trading with America. He was in command of many vessels, stations, and expeditions. He finally became a director of the Russian American company, and was honored by the government with the rank of commercial councillor. Khlebnikof, Shizn. Baranova, 14.
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DELAROF AT KADIAK.
than those Shelikof had intended to confer upon Baranof. Delarof's administration at Kadiak won him the good-will of all under his command, both Russians and natives, and he received well merited praise from all visitors, Spanish, English, and Rus- sian. In all reports concerning Delarof, prominence is given to his justice to all, and his kindness to the natives; but just and amiable men are not usually of the kind chosen to manage a monopoly. In this instance Delarof was too lenient to suit his avaricious and unscrupulous partners. Shelikof never lost sight of Baranof, and when the treacherous Chukchi with whom he was trading robbed him of his goods and reduced him to poverty, it did not require much per- suasion to induce him to enter the service of the Shelikof Company at a compensation of ten shares, equivalent to about one sixth of the net proceeds. A mutual agreement was drawn up between the com- pany and Baranof on the 18th of August 1790,11 and the instructions already issued to Samoilof and De- larof were in the main confirmed. Operations must be extended also along the coast southward, and steps might be taken to obtain supplies from other quarters besides Siberia
Alexandr Andreïevich Baranof was born in Kar- gopol, eastern Russia, in 1747. At an early age he went to Moscow, and was engaged as clerk in retail shops until he established himself in business in 1771.
11 The contract, in addition to instructions with regard to the treatment of natives, contained some outlines of what the company expected to accomplish under Baranof's management. He was to seek a harbor on the left (north) side of the Alaska peninsula and thence a communication with Cook Inlet by means of a short portage, reported by the natives. Of this he was to make use in case of attack by hostile cruisers. In addition he was furnished with ample instructions how to act in case of such attacks upon the different stations. A ship accompanied by a fleet of canoes was to go to Cape St Elias and thence to Nootka, to ascertain whether any foreign nations had estab- lished themselves on the coast between the Russians and Spaniards. Baranof was also to enter into communication with the English merchant McIntosh, engaged in the East India and China trade, in order to make arrangements for supplying the Russian settlements with goods and provisions. Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 32-4.
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Not meeting with success he emigrated to Siberia in 1780, and undertook the management of a glass factory at Irkutsk. He also interested himself in other industries, and on account of several commu- nications to the Civil Economical Society on the subject of manufactures he was in 1789 elected a member of the society. It was a humdrum life of which he soon tired, and after acquainting himself with the resources and possibilities of the country, he set out eastward with an assortment of goods and liquors which he sold to the savages of Kamchatka and the adjoining country. At first his operations were suc- cessful,12 but when in 1789 two of his caravans were captured by Chukchi he found himself bankrupt, and yielded to Shelikof's importunate offers to go to America. He had a wife and children at his home in Kargopol, Russia, but during his subsequent residence of almost thirty years in the colonies he never saw his family again though he provided amply for them.
Alexander Baranof was no ordinary man, and never throughout his whole career did Shelikof display clearer discrimination and foresight than in the selec- tion of this agent. He was a man of broad experience, liberal-minded and energetic, politic enough to please at once the government and the company, not suffi- ciently just or humane to interfere with the interests of the company, yet having care enough, at what he decreed the proper time, for the conventionalities of the world to avoid bringing discredit on himself or his office. Notwithstanding what certain Russian priests and English navigators have said, he was not the lazy, licentious sot they would have us believe. That he was not burdened with religion, was loose in morals, sometimes drunk, and would lie officially without scruple, there is no doubt; yet in all this he was conspicuous over his accusers in that his indul-
12 He established trading posts in Kamchatka and on the Anadir. Khleb- nikof, Shizn. Baranova, 3-5. See also Golovnin, in Materialui, i. 9-10; Petrof, Russ. Am. Co., MS., 10; Irving's Astoria, 465; Hist. Northwest Coast, ii. 222, this series; and the rather inimical version of Juvenal, Jour., MS., 18-19.
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ALEXANDR ANDREIEVICH BARANOF.
gences were periodical rather than continuous, and not carried on under veil of that conventional grace and gravity which cover a multitude of sins.
He was frequently seized with fits of melancholy, due partly to uncongenial surroundings,13 and would at other times break out in passionate rage, during which even women were not safe from his blows. This exhibition, however, was invariably followed by contrite generosity, displayed in presents to the suf- ferers and in a banquet or convivial drinking bout with singing and merriment, so that his fits came to be welcomed as forerunners to good things. His hos- pitality was also extended to foreigners, though with them he observed prudent reticence. The poor could always rely upon his aid, and this benevolence was coupled with an integrity and disinterestedness at least far above the usual standard among his associ- ates. 14
Compare him with Grigor Shelikof, who certainly did not lack broad vision and activity, and Baranof was the abler man. Both belonged to the shrewd yet uncultured and somewhat coarse class which then formed the main element even among the rich men in Siberia. In vital deeds Baranof the agent rises superior to Shelikof the principal, belongs more to history, as one who in executing difficult plans shows himself often a greater man than he who conceived them. Indeed, if for the next two or three decades Baranof, his acts and his influence, were absent, Rus- sian American history for that period would be but a blank. Among all those who came from Russia, he alone was able to stem the tide of encroachment by roving traders from the United States and Great Britain. He was any day, drunk or sober, a match for the navigator who came to spy out his secrets.
13 To disgust at his low companions, says Davidof, but he was not much more refined himself. Dvukr. Putesh., i. 192.
14 Of this Davidof has no doubt, for 'he is not accumulating wealth though having every opportunity to do so.' Id., Juvenal, Jour., MS., 19-20.
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As for the natives his influence over them was un- bounded, chiefly through the respect with which his indomitable courage and constant presence of mind impressed them.16 And yet the savage who came perhaps from afar expressly to behold the famed leader, was not a little disappointed in his insignifi- cant appearance as compared with his fierce and bushy bearded associates. Below the medium height, thin and sallow of complexion, with scanty red-tinged flaxen hair fringing a bald crown, he seemed but an imp among giants. The later habit of wearing a short black wig tied to his head with a black handkerchief, added to his grotesque appearance.16
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