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CHAPTER XXI.
REZANOF'S VISIT.
1804-1806.
VOYAGE OF THE 'NADESHDA'-A RUSSIAN EMBASSY DISMISSED BY THE JAPAN- ESE-REZANOF AT ST PAUL ISLAND-WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER OF FUR- SEALS-THE AMBASSADOR'S LETTER TO THE EMPEROR-THE ENVOY PRO- CEEDS TO KADIAK-AND THENCE TO NOVO ARKHANGELSK-HIS REPORT TO THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY-FURTHER TROUBLE WITH THE KOLOSH-THE AMBASSADOR'S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CHIEF MANAGER -- EVIL TIDINGS FROM KADIAK-REZANOF'S VOYAGE TO CALIFORNIA-HIS COMPLAINTS AGAINST NAVAL OFFICERS-HIS OPINION OF THE MISSION- ARIES-HIS LAST JOURNEY.
A FORTNIGHT before the Neva sailed for Canton, the Elizaveta arrived at Novo Arkhangelsk, together with two American ships, one of them, named the Juno, laden with provisions, calling for repairs. A few days later the company's brig Maria entered the harbor, having on board as passengers lieutenants Kvostof and Davidof, the naturalist Langsdorff, and the am- bassador Rezanof, who was destined to play an im- portant part in the development of the Russian American colonies. Before proceeding further, it may be well to mention briefly the voyage of the Nadeshda from the time of her parting company with her consort, and the envoy's operations before landing at Novo Arkhangelsk.
After a passage of thirty-five days from the Sand- wich Islands, the vessel arrived at Petropavlovsk on the 14th of July, 1804. Here Rezanof assumed full control. The ship, after being unrigged and repaired, was again ready for sea at the end of August, but
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444
REZANOF'S VISIT.
was weather-bound until the 6th of the following month, when she sailed from the coast of Kamchatka, well equipped, and with an ample stock of provisions.1
Arriving at Nangasaki on October 8th, after a rough passage, Rezanof was detained for several months by the frivolous trifling of the Japanese au- thorities. At length, on the 30th of March, 1805, a plenipotentiary arrived from Jeddo, and "on the 3d of April," writes Krusenstern, "it was concluded that the ambassador should pay the representative of the Japanese emperor, a European, and not a Japanese, compliment. This latter, indeed, is of so debasing a nature, that even the very lowest of Europeans could not submit to it; but he was obliged to appear with- out his sword or shoes, nor would they allow him a chair or any kind of European seat, but reduced him to the necessity of sitting in front of the governor and the plenipotentiary, on the floor, with his feet tucked under him, an attitude by no means the most conven- ient.
"On the 4th of April Rezanof had his first audience, to which he was conveyed in a large boat adorned with flags and curtains. On this occasion, merely an exchange of compliments took place, and a few insig- nificant questions were put to him. The second au- dience was conducted with the same ceremonies, and here the negotiation terminated; the necessary docu- ments being delivered into his hands, which contained an order that no Russian ship should again come to Japan; and the presents, and even the letter from the emperor of Russia, were all refused."2
1 Krusenstern writes: 'I doubt whether any ship ever sailed from this harbor so well provisioned as we were; and shall mention the chief articles we were furnished with, in order to show what Kamchatka was competent to provide. We had seven large live oxen, a considerable provision of salted and dried fish, a great supply of vegetables, several casks of salt fish for the crew, and three large barrels of wild garlic (as an anti-scorbutic and a substitute for sourkrout). Besides these, we received several delicacies for our own table, such as salted reindeer and game, argali or wild sheep, salted wild geese, etc., for all which we were indebted to the governor, who, if I may be allowed the expression, employed all Kamchatka to our advantage.' Voy. round World, i. 215-16.
2 Id., i. 284-5. 'Should any Japanese hereafter be cast upon the coast of
445
AT SAINT PAUL.
In sore disgust, Rezanof ordered th captain of thee Nadeshda to weigh anchor on the morning of the 17th of April. After being engaged for several weeks in exploring expeditions among the Japanese, Kurile, and Saghalin Islands, the ship again cast anchor off Petropavlovsk on the 5th of June. Here Rezanof engaged a passage on board the brig Maria for Ka- diak, the Nadeshda sailing a month later, and after further explorations, arriving at Macao on the 20th of November.
Dismissing the members of his embassy with the ex- ception of Langsdorff, the plenipotentiary sailed from Petropavlovsk on the 24th of June, and about three weeks later landed at the island of St Paul. Here he met with sufficient evidences of carelessness and waste. The skins of the fur-seal were scattered about over beach and bluff in various stages of decomposition. The storehouses were full, but only a small part of their contents was in a marketable state. As many as thirty thousand had been killed for their flesh alone, the skins having been left on the spot or thrown into the sea. After questioning the Aleutian laborers and Russian overseers, Rezanof came to the conclusion that unless an end were put to this wanton destruc- tion, a few years more would witness the extirpation of the fur-seal.
On the 25th of July the Maria entered Beaver Bay, on the eastern side of Unalaska, and thence, with , a few companions, Rezanof proceeded on foot over the rough mountain trail to the company's station at Illiu- liuk.3
Russia,' continues Krusenstern, 'they were to be delivered over to the Dutch, who would send them by way of Batavia to Nangasaki. Further: we were forbidden from making any presents, or purchasing anything for money, as well as from visiting or receiving the visit of the Dutch factor. On the other hand, it was declared that the repairs of the ship and the supply of provisions were to be taken into the imperial account; that she should be provided with everything for two months; and that the emperor had sent 2,000 sacks of salt, each weighing 30 pounds, and 100 sacks of rice, each of 150 pounds weight, besides 2,000 pieces of capock or silk wadding.'
3 The natives of the settlement on Beaver Bay (Borka) still relate inci- dents of this journey, transmitted to them by their fathers. They told Mr
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REZANOF'S VISIT.
From this settlement Rezanof despatched his first official letter. After making brief mention of his voy- age, he writes:+ " The multitude of seals in which St Paul abounds is incredible; the shores are covered with them. They are easily caught, and as we were short of provisions, eighteen were killed for us in half an hour. But at the same time we were informed that they had decreased in number ninety per cent since earlier times. These islands would be an inex- haustible source of wealth were it not for the Bostoni- ans, who undermine our trade with China in furs, of which they obtain large numbers on our American coast. As over a million had already been killed, I gave orders to stop the slaughter at once, in order to prevent their total extirmination, and to employ the men in collecting walrus tusks, as there is a small isl- and near St Paul covered with walrus.
" I take the liberty, as a faithful subject of your im- perial Majesty, of declaring my opinion that it is very necessary to take a stronger hold of this country. It is certain that we shall leave it empty-handed, since from fifteen to twenty ships come here annually from Boston to trade. In the first place, the company should build a small stanch brig, and send out heavy ordnance for her armament. This would compel the Bostonians to keep away, and the Chinese would get no furs but ours. Secondly, the establishment of the company's business on so large a scale requires great expenditure, and the trade in furs alone cannot support it. The American colonies can never be fully de- veloped as long as bread, the principal staple of food, has to be shipped from Okhotsk. To this end it is
Petroff, during his visit in 1878, that when this greatest and mightiest of all Russians who had ever visited their country passed over the trail connecting the head of Beaver Bay with Illiuliuk settlement, the obsequious promyshle- niki had engaged numbers of natives to carry pieces of board or plank in advance of the ambassador to be laid over rivulets and damp places, and thereby save his excellency from wetting his feet. The natives, who think nothing of wading through water for hours at a time, were evidently deeply impressed with this extraordinary precaution.
4 He was authorized to address his despatches directly to the emperor, a privilege seldom granted to a Russian subject.
447
LETTER TO THE TSAR.
necessary to intercede with the Spanish government for permission to purchase on the Philippine Islands, or in Chili, the produce of those countries. There we could obtain breadstuffs, sugar, and rum at low prices for bills of exchange in piastres, and in sufficient quan- tity to supply all Kamchatka; while in the mean time we are developing our colonies in America, and after building ships there could compel the Japanese to open their ports to our trade.
" I hope that your imperial Majesty will not con- sider it a crime on my part, if, after being reënforced by my distinguished cooperators, Lieutenants Khvos- tof and Davidof, and having the ship repaired and newly armed, I push on next year to the coast of Japan, there to destroy the settlement at Matsmai, drive the Japanese from Saghalin Island, and frighten them away from the whole coast and the Kurile Isl- ands, breaking up their fisheries, and thereby depriv- ing 200,000 people of food, which will force them all the sooner to open their ports. I have heard that they have been bold enough to erect a factory at Oor- upa Island, one of our Kuriles.
"Here at Unalaska, I have succeeded in impressing the islanders with your Majesty's fatherly care for their welfare. I asked them if they were satisfied with their agent Mr Larionof, and if they suffered oppression. They all answered unanimously that he had been a father to them. I questioned also the chiefs of more distant villages, and they all answered the same. Finally I assembled the whole population, and persuaded them to tell me without fear whether they had cause for complaint, informing them that my advent among them was the consequence of your im- perial Majesty's anxiety for their well-being. They answered that they had only one request to make, and that not of me, but of the agent, and when I inquired what that request was, assuring them that it should be granted, they answered that they wished him to be as good to them in the future as he had been in
448
REZANOF'S VISIT.
the past, for they had been perfectly quiet and happy, and received such remuneration for their labor as had been mutually agreed upon. I gave to the agent Larionof, in the name of your imperial Majesty, a gold medal, and to the interpreter Pankof a silver medal, and told the chiefs that these men had been rewarded solely on the strength of their unanimous favorable answers to my questions. At the same time I inflicted exemplary punishment upon the trader Kulikalof, who had been summoned from Atkha Isl- and for cruelly beating a native woman and her in- fant son. After assembling all the chiefs and other natives, and the Russians and sailors from the vessel, I had the culprit put in irons and sent him off to Irkutsk by the transport then about to sail, to be turned over to the courts of justice; after which I ex- plained to the islanders that before your imperial Majesty all subjects were equal, and then turning to the Russian hunters, I assured them that every act of violence would be as severely punished."
On the 25th of July, the Maria sailed from Una- laska, and a week latter anchored in the harbor of St Paul. Upon landing, Rezanof, as the plenipotentiary of the Russian emperor, was saluted with salvos of artillery and received with hearty welcome.5 His re- port on the condition of affairs was satisfactory, and he speaks in high terms of Banner, who was still in charge of the colony.6
form, who had ranged themselves along the stockade. At the landing place, he was met by three Russian clergymen and conducted by them to the church. Here a te deum was offered up by the whole population upon the happy arrival of so distinguished a personage. Langsdorff's Voy., part ii. 57. 6 At this time it consisted of about 30 buildings, apart from the habita- tions of the natives. Id., 66. Of the condition of the natives, Langsdorff gives a very unfavorable account. 'They are at present,' he says, 'so completely the slaves of the company, that they hold of them their baidars, their clothing, and even the bone with which their javelins are pointed, and the whole produce of their hunting parties is entirely at their disposal. It is revolting to a mind of any feeling to see these poor creatures half starved and almost naked, as if they were in a house of correction, when at the same time the warehouses of the company are full of clothing and provisions. Nor is this the case with the natives alone: the Russian promüschleniks are not in a much better situation. They are extremely ill-treated, and kept at
449
MEASURES OF IMPROVEMENT.
During his brief stay he took measures to improve the moral condition of the settlement. In a building which had been erected during the preceding winter by Lisiansky, he laid the foundation for a library, with books forwarded for the purpose from St Peters- burg.7 He urged upon the promyshleniki and natives in the service of the company the benefit to be derived from sending their children to the school, which for some years had been sparsely attended. At the same time he induced the wife of Banner to take into her house a certain number of young girls · to be trained in housekeeping.
Arriving at Novo Arkhangelsk near the end of August, Rezanof and his party were provided with the best accommodation at the disposal of the chief manager, and with such rough and scant fare as his stores could furnish. "We all live poorly," writes the former, a few weeks later, in his first report to the Russian American Company; "but worse than all lives the founder of this place, in a miserable hut, so damp that the floor is always wet, and during the constant heavy rains the place leaks like a sieve. Wonderful man! He only cares for the comfort of others, and is very neglectful of himself. Once I found his bed floating in the water, and asked him whether the wind had not torn off a board somewhere
their work till their strength is entirely exhausted; if they are ill, they must never hope for medical assistance or support in any other way; while as little attention at the same time is paid to their minds as to their bodies. The bad quality of their food, which consists chiefly of the flesh of whales and sea-dogs, the moist, foggy climate, the dirtiness of their habitations in the barracks, the want of a proper change of linen and clothing, all these are circumstances sufficient to undermine the strongest constitution. Id., 71-2. Langsdorff's statements, though supported in part by those of Lisiansky, which I have already quoted, are probably exaggerated.
7 Previous to his departure from St Petersburg, Rezanof received portraits in oil of the imperial family, and of scientific men, the latter presenting their likenesses 'with the sole object of awakening in the untutored mind of the American savage an understanding of true art.' One of these donations was made by State Counsellor Von Fuchs, director of the Moscow Academy of Sciences, who accompanied his gift with a letter, in which he spoke of Rez- anof as the ' worthy successor of all the great discoverers of the world-the Russian Columbus.' Petroff during his wanderings in Alaska saw the por- trait of Fuchs doing duty as saint in the corner of a smoky dwelling of a native up Cook Inlet.
HIST. ALASKA. 29
450
REZANOF'S VISIT.
from the side of the hut. 'No,' he answered quietly, 'it is only the old leak,' and turned again to his occupation. I tell you, gentlemen, that Baranof is an original, and at the same time a very happy production of nature. His name is heard on the whole western coast, down to California. The Bostonians esteem him and respect him, and the savage tribes, in their dread of him, offer their friendship from the most distant regions." Re- zanof then informs the directors that both Baranof and Kuskof desire to leave the country, and declares that in the existing state of affairs a new man could be of no use, for, in the time that he would require to be- come acquainted with his duties, the company would inevitably suffer considerable loss, and might be de- prived of all its possessions.
In their last communication, the directors had in- formed their plenipotentiary that they purposed to es- tablish trading-posts in Tonquin, Cochin China, Bur- mah, and elsewhere in the farther Indies. But Re- zanof, although a man of sanguine temperament, was of opinion that, with the resources at his command, such a project was simply chimerical. He does not ap- pear, however, to have abandoned his intention of forcing the Japanese to open their ports, although he states that the company is in no condition to extend its operations beyond north-western America.8
8 He had intended that a flotilla should be built at Novo Arkhangelsk for his Japanese expedition, but in view of the poverty-stricken condition of the settlement, contented himself with ordering a launch made for the Juno. The craft was significantly named the Avoss (Perhaps), and Davidof was appoint- ed her commander, Kvosdof taking charge of the Juno. On his arrival at Okhotsk, in September 1806, Rezanof procured a new armament for the Juno and the Avoss for the expedition to the Japanese coast. The commanders of the two vessels were instructed to seize everything in such Japanese settle- ments as were accessible, taking care at the same time to capture alive as large a number as possible of skilled artisans, who might be useful in the American colonies. Having long since revolved the plan of this enterprise in his mind, he had instructed Baranof to prepare quarters for such compul- sory immigrants on an island in Sitka Bay, which has since borne the name of Japanovsky, though the envoy's plan was never carried out. Feeling that he was acting raslily, and without the sanction of the imperial government, Rezanof was somewhat uneasy, and changed the tenor of his instructions sev- eral times before finally delivering them to Kvosdof and Davidof. The two
451
A NEW REVOLT.
"The Kolosh appear to be subdued," continues the envoy, "but for how long ? They have been armed by the Bostonians with the best guns and pistols, and have even falconets. All along the sound they have erected forts. The fierceness and treachery once ex- hibited by the natives have taught us all the greatest caution. Our cannon are always loaded, and not only are sentries with loaded guns posted everywhere, but arms of all kinds are the chief furniture of our rooms. Every evening, after sundown, signals are maintained throughout the night, and a watchword is passed from post to post until daylight. Perfect military disci- pline is enforced, and we are ready at any moment to receive the savages, who are in the habit of profiting by the darkness and gloom of night to make their attacks."
Rezanof's fears were not ill-founded. About the very time that his report was written a rumor reached Novo Arkhangelsk, which was afterward confirmed, that the Yakutat colony had been destroyed by the Kolosh, and all the Russians, except the commander's wife and children, together with a number of Aleuts, massacred.9 Encouraged by this success, the savages determined to attack the Russian settlements lying farther to the north. Embarking in eight large war- canoes, they proceeded to the mouth of the Copper River, where, leaving six of their vessels, they de- spatched the other two to the Konstantinovski Re- doubt, on Nuchek Island. Their chief, Fedor, a godson of Baranof, and a man well known to the promysh- leniki, appeared boldly before Ouvarof, the commander of the station, declaring that he wished to trade with the Chugatsches. Ouvarof gave him permission, and
officers by no means liked the part they were to play in the proposed under- taking, but being accustomed to implicit obedience of orders, they did their best in carrying out the work of destruction. This course of action subse- quently involved them in serious difficulties with the Okhotsk authorities, resulting in imprisonment, privation, and suffering. Tikhmenef, i. 154-160.
9 The news was sent by Ivan Repin, the company's agent at Konstantin- ovsk Redoubt, on Nuchek Island. His letter was sent to Kadiak, and dated September 24, 1805. Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., ii. app. part ii. 195.
452
REZANOF'S VISIT.
witnessed the usual preliminary dances and festivity. On one of the canoes kept in reserve there was, how- ever, a captive Chugatsch, who succeeded in escaping, and informed Ouvarof of the real object of the Ko- losh. Thereupon the Russian commander seized the chief, and told him that his plan had been revealed. In the mean time the native allies, hearing of the matter, had taken the remainder of the Kolosh to their village under pretence of inviting them to a feast, and had there massacred almost the entire party. Among the few that escaped was Fedor, who carried to the party at Copper River the news of their com- rades' fate. Fearing that the Chugatsches would soon be upon them, the panic-stricken Kolosh at once put to sea, and while attempting to cross the bar in the teeth of a gale, the bidarkas were dashed to pieces and their inmates drowned. Thus was the Yakutat massacre avenged without the loss of a single man on the side of the Russians.10
During a brief sojourn in London, in 1803, while the Nadeshda was lying at Falmouth, Rezanof visited Newgate prison, where he saw four hundred convicts awaiting transportation to Botany Bay. Thus was suggested to him the idea of petitioning the crown that a number of exiles be sent out yearly to reënforce the sparsely peopled colonies of Russian America. He recommends that those selected be chiefly mechanics and laborers, and that it be understood that none should have permission to return, in order that society might be permanently rid of a portion of its dangerous members; while the criminals, being fairly treated and having no hope of escape, would be of great benefit in building up the settlements.
For several months after Rezanof's arrival at Novo Arkhangelsk, formal councils were convened for the purpose of discussing measures for the welfare of the
10 Khlebnikof, Shizn. Baranova, 102-5. The number of Kolosh who per- ished was about 200, of whom 70 were massacred at Nuchek Island.
453
COLONIAL ORGANIZATION.
colonies. 11 At their meetings Baranof and his chief assistants were always present, but the plenipotentiary was doubtless the guiding spirit. At the close of their deliberations the latter handed to the chief man- ager a list of instructions for his guidance, which, though some of them were for the time impracticable, show a keen insight into the wants of the colony. He recommends that special attention be paid to the training of mechanics and tradesmen; that the garri- son be recruited from friendly natives and native youths reared at the company's expense; that young men be trained in the schools of the colony to fill po- sitions as book-keepers, clerks, and agents; that a fund be provided for the support of the aged and disabled; that, in view of the scarcity of shipwrights, ships be purchased from foreigners whenever opportunity may offer, even at a sacrifice, and that for this purpose credits be established with banking houses in London and Amsterdam; and that in order to insure a suffi- cient supply of bread-stuffs, trade be established with California, New Albion, and the Philippine Islands.12
" Upon the fur trade alone," he writes in a letter to the directors, "the company cannot subsist, and it is absolutely necessary to organize without delay a business of a general character-a trade with other countries to which the road is open from the colony. This is all the more necessary, as the number of fur- bearing animals decreases from year to year. If Bar- anof had not returned to Novo Arkhangelsk, but given up the enterprise there as lost, the effect upon the
11 The first of them appears to have been held on the Ist of September, 1805. On this occasion the envoy, after examining the reports of Baranof, said: 'The organization of the company is complete and in perfect working order; all matters connected with trade, actual settlement, and general econ- omy are flourishing; the inhabitants are being instructed in the necessary industries, trades, and manufactures; the business connections are being con- stantly extended; the administration of justice is efficient; the navigation of the company's vessels is intrusted to tried seamen, and youths are being trained to succeed them when required; the fighting establishment is strong, and ready for any emergency; and the relations with friendly tribes of the natives are of a satisfactory character, and likely to be permanent.' Id., 91-2.
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