USA > Alaska > History of Alaska : 1730-1885 > Part 53
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The news of these treaties, which was not received until after Chistiakof had taken command, aroused a storm of remonstrance on the part of the Russian American Company. The imperial government was. besieged with petitions to abrogate the clauses grant- ing free trade and navigation to Americans and Eng- lishmen for a period of ten years. It was represented as a most flagrant violation of the rights granted by the imperial government, the result of which would inevitably be the dissolution of the company. The most active promoter of this agitation was Admiral N. P. Mordvinof, a shareholder of the company, who, in a letter to the minister for foreign affairs, de- fended the sanctity of the company's privileges, point- ing out that the vague wording of some of the treaty clauses would lead to many misunderstandings. Dur- ing the lifetime of Alexander, no attention was paid to these complaints; but after Nicholas had ascended the throne, negotiations were inaugurated with the Brit- ish and United States governments for an abolition
provisions, or material, without payment of duty or port charges, but if the captain of such vessel was obliged to sell a portion of his cargo to cover the expenses incurred, he was to conform to local regulations of trade. Clause xi. provides that in case of any complaint of the violation of this treaty, the civil and military authorities of either contracting power should not be allowed to resort to arbitrary or forcible measures, but that the matter must be referred to the respective courts at St Petersburg and St James's. Id., 64-6.
.
545
EXPEDITION TO THE KURILE ISLANDS.
of the treaty. The first proposals met with a firm refusal in both countries, but to appease the share- holders a supplementary oukaz was issued, stating that the privileges of navigation and trade extended to foreigners would be confined to the strip of coast between the British possessions and the 141st merid- ian. The standpoint of Russia on this question was communicated to all the representatives of that nation abroad, and as the north-west trade was then in its decline, no further complications ensued, and no at- tempt was ever made to apply the provisions of the convention to the islands and coasts of western Alaska.
C.Povorotnoi
CHOUMCHOUC.Lopatka
SAGHALIAN
ALAIOI
PARAMOUCHIREI
ONNEHOTANTE
CHAVAMUKOTAN
GULFOF TARTARY
EKARMA
KETOR OR EMARIKAN
GURUP
ITÜRÜP
JES
KOUNASBIR
S
KURILE ISLANDS.
While the directors of the company were loud in their remonstrance against foreign encroachment, they did not hesitate themselves to establish settlements in regions to which they had no valid claim. A. com- mittee established by the company at Petropavlovsk in November 1830 ordered that an expedition be sent to the Kurile Islands. A settlement on Ourupa Isl- and, abandoned in 1805, had been rebuilt in 1828, and during that and the following year furs to the value of eight hundred thousand roubles had been obtained. In 1830 a ship was despatched from Novo Arkhan- gelsk with a party of hunters, well supplied with pro- visions and material, to form a colony on Simusir Isl- HIST. ALASKA. 35
546
THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY'S OPERATIONS.
and. The natives were not numerous, numbering in 1812 only sixty-seven souls for the entire group, and the Russians found no difficulty in annexing their ter- ritory to the possessions of the company.23
During the second term of the Russian American Company's existence, several important expeditions were undertaken. Within the colonies, explorations were continued by Mouravief, the principal one being under command of Khramchenko, Etholen, and Master Vassilaief, who sailed from Novo Arkhangelsk in the brig Golovnin and the schooner Baranof, in June 1822, and remained absent for two years. A detailed survey was made on this occasion of the coasts from Bristol Bay westward to the mouth of the Kuskok- vim. Norton Sound was also explored along its east- ern and northern coast, the deep identation on the north shore being named Golovnin. Many promi- nent points were definitely located with the help of astronomical observations, but the coast between Stuart Island and the Kuskokvim was again neglect- ed, as it had been by all previous explorers. To this expedition we owe the only charts now existing of the coast between Bristol Bay and Cape Newenham. 24
In 1826 the Russian government despatched an exploring expedition in command of Captain Lütke, who arrived at Novo Arkhangelsk in June of the following year.25 After remaining in port for a
23 Before the annexation of the Kurile Islands each native paid an annual tribute of 41 sea-otter, 23 fox skins, and 74 kopeks in money.
2ª From the reports in the Sitka Archives, it appears that Khramchenko and Vassilaief were always quarrelling, Etholen serving as arbitrator. It is perhaps owing to this circumstance that Etholen's name alone appears on the charts compiled during the progress of the explorations, though the work of surveying was accomplished almost exclusively by his colleagues. We find several capes named Etholen, and also one strait between Unalaska Island and the mainland. The name of Vassilaief, who subsequently did much good work in inland exploration, does not appear on any map or chart except in connection with a submerged rock in Kadiak Harbor, upon which the mari- ner's craft happened to strike. Sitka Archives (log-book), ix.
25 In the Materialui, Istor. Russ., part iv. 133-41, is a description, by the captain, of Novo Arkhangelsk, its inhabitants, and their mode of life at the time of his visit.
547
EXPLORATIONS.
month, the captain proceeded to Unalaska and the Prybilof Islands, making also a careful survey of the northern coast of the Alaska peninsula, naming the various points, and finally visiting St Matthew Island and Petropavlovsk before proceeding south for the winter.26 Two other vessels belonging to the ex- pedition, the Krotky and the Möller, sailed in 1828, the former commanded by Hagemeister, the latter by Captain Staniukovich. Both officers made impor- tant surveys of the coasts of Bering Sea, which was visited about the same time by Captain Beechey in the ship Blossom.
In 1829 Chistiakof ordered an inland exploration to the north of the Nushagak River, in charge of Vassilaief, the creole Alexander Kolmakof being one of the party. The expedition was organized on Kadiak Island, and crossing the peninsula ascended the Nushagak to the region of the lakes, and thence reached the Kuskokvimn. Kolmakof on this occasion selected the site for a trading-post, built by him two or three years later; and in 1841 a redoubt was con- structed and named after him, near the junction of the Kvigin and Kuskokvim rivers. The furs brought back were fox and sable of fine quality, and the estab- lishment of a permanent station in the interior was determined. On his return, Vassilaief laid before the governor a plan for establishing communication with Norton Sound by way of the route which he had dis- covered. On the Kuskokvim he had met with natives living on the lower Yukon and the shores of Norton Sound who assured him that the transit from one river basin to the other was short and easy of accom- plishment.
In 1830 the brig Chichagof was despatched north- ward in charge of midshipman Etholen, with instruc-
26 During this cruise, Lütke named port Moller on the Alaska peninsula, port Haiden, Cape Seniavin, and Hagemeister Island. He also made a minute survey of the vicinity of Cape Chukotsk on the coast of Asia. The scientists Kitlitz, Postels, and Mertens sailed in the Seniavin. All three pub- lished reports of their investigations.
548
THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY'S OPERATIONS.
tions to explore Norton Sound and proceed thence to Bering Strait, touching at St Lawrence, Asiak, and Ookivok islands. Ookivok the midshipman found to be an entirely barren island; and "one wonders," he writes in his report, "how people could ever settle upon it, but the countless number of walrus around its shores soon solves the riddle. The savages who hunt these animals receive in exchange from the in- habitants of the mainland all the necessaries of life, and gain their subsistence easily." At St Lawrence Etholen found five native villages, the inhabitants of which also lived chiefly by hunting walrus. On his return to Novo Arkhangelsk, he reported that it would be beneficial to the company's trade to establish a fort on or near Stuart Island at the entrance of Norton Sound.27
On the arrival in the colonies of Baron Ferdinand P. von Wrangell, who was appointed Chistiakof's succes- sor,28 explorations were made on a larger scale. After examining the reports of Vassilaief's and Etholen's expeditions, Wrangell came to the conclusion that com- munication between Bering Bay and Norton Sound could be established overland. For this purpose he ordered Lieutenant Tebenkof to proceed to the latter point in the sloop Ourupa. Tebenkof erected a forti- fication with the consent of the natives, who promised to trade with the Russians, and gave to the settlement and to the island on which it was founded the name of Mikhaielovsk.29 When the necessary buildings had
27 Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 283-5. In 1831 and 1837 careful explorations were also made of the Alaska peninsula and the adjacent islands.
28 Though Chistiakof had given complete satisfaction to the managers, they resolved to relieve him at the end of his term and appoint a man of scientific attainments, and one higher in social and official rank. From the beginning of his administration, Chistiakof had endeavored to persuade the managers that their interests would be served by removing the seat of authority from Novo Arkhangelsk to St Paul. So repeated and urgent were his representa- tions, that the assembly of shareholders finally passed a resolution authorizing the change. Before the removal could be effected, however, Chistiakof was relieved, and the project abandoned.
29 It narrowly escaped destruction in 1836 from an attack of the natives, an account of which is given in Zagoskin, Peshekhodnaia Opiss Chasty Russ. Vlad. v Amer., part i. 28-9; and Tikhmenef, Istor. Obos., i. 287-8. According
549
WRANGELL'S RULE.
been completed preparations were begun for the in- land explorations included in the governor's instruc- tions.
A native of the colonies, a creole named Andreï Glazanof, who had been instructed in the use of astro- nomical instruments, and was familiar with various dialects of the Innuit language, was selected to take charge of the expedition.30 The plan first adopted was to proceed to the mouth of the river Pastol, making the portage across a low divide to the Yukon; but rumors being heard of hostile intent on the part of the natives in that region, it was found impossible to secure a guide. Three natives were therefore se- cured to guide the party to the banks of the Yukon in a north-easterly direction, and on the 30th of Decem- ber, 1833, the explorers left the road with two sleds, each drawn by five dogs, and a small quantity of pro- visions and trading goods, the men carrying their own guns, knapsacks, and clothing. They travelled on the ice, following the coast in a northerly direction until reaching the village of Kigikhtowik, whence on the following day they struck eastward. After crossing several ranges of hills with great difficulty, Glazanof arrived on the banks of the Anvik. His progress was much impeded by the condition of the ice on the rivers, and within two weeks his provisions were ex- hausted. In the hope of finding natives, his party proceeded up the Anvik into the mountains, but finding it impossible to reach their hunting-grounds, was forced to return, subsisting on a small quantity of
to the former authority, the settlement contained, about the year 1843, a bar- rack, a house for the managing agent, two magazines, a shed, bath-house, and kitchen, all occupying a space of 20 fathoms square, enclosed with a stockade 15 feet high, and protected by two block-houses, mounted with six three- pounders. Outside the stockade was a blacksmith's shop, a house for native visitors, and a chapel.
30 He was accompanied by four volunteers, Vassili Donskoi, Vassili Dersha- bin, Ivan Balachef, and Jacob Knagge. Donskoi died from the effect of in- juries received during the journey. Dershabin and Balachef remained in the company's service; the former was finally killed in the Nulato massacre, together with Lieutenant Barnard of the English navy, while Balachef served at the stations on Cook Inlet, where his children are still living. Wrangell, Statist. und Ethnog., 138-9.
550
THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY'S OPERATIONS.
frozen fish taken from the Indian caches. On the 17th of January the explorers stumbled on a subter- ranean dwelling occupied by a native couple and their three children. Here they were treated to an ample meal of rotten fish, and found an opportunity to mend their broken sleds and snow-shoes.
A week later Glazanof and his men, now completely exhausted, arrived at the mouth of the Anvik, where they found a native village, the inhabitants of which, at the first sight of the Russians, began to prepare for defence, but a messenger being sent forward un- armed, succeeded in persuading them as to Glazanof's peaceable intentions, whereupon a cordial invitation was extended to the way-worn travellers to rest and recuperate their strength. One of the subterranean dwellings was vacated by its occupants to accommo- date the guests, and after taking due precautions, Glazanof proceeded to the kashim, or council-house, a large structure containing several hundred people. He addressed the multitude, and less by his eloquence probably than by a judicious distribution of tobacco, succeeded in gaining their friendship. Presents of fish blubber, bear meat, and other food were laid be- fore him, and he was told that if he had other wants they should be at once supplied. Here the party re- mained for some time, in friendly intercourse with the natives, and finally proceeded down the Yukon, as their new friends dissuaded them from attempting the portage route to the Kuskokvim.31
The subsequent explorations of Glazanof and his party were confined to the delta of the Yukon, the dense population of which astonished the Russians. His diary, which has been preserved, is full of the most minute observations of the topography and eth- nology of this region, which modern investigations
81 Glazanof questioned two natives who arrived during his presence at An- vik from the Chageluk River, and obtained from them a description of the country between the two rivers. These men evidently described the longest portage route, without mentioning another by which communiction can be effected in two days with the greatest ease. Id., 148-9.
551
GLAZANOF ON THE YUKON.
prove to be remarkably accurate. At one mouth of the Yukon, named the Kashunok, he met with two natives from the Kuskokvim, who had been bap- tized by Kolmakof in the year 1832. They de- scribed the ceremony to the other natives, who were so much pleased with it that they requested Glazanof to baptize them also; but he declared that he had no authority to do so. A large number of these Indians agreed to accompany the Russians on their return to Mikhaielovsk, on condition that the guides who had
C.Romanof
Pastolık B.
MIKHAIELOVSK
C.
Rumiantzof
Yukon R.
ashuinok
0
C.Vancouver NELSON
1.
NUNIVAK 1.
Kuskouim Bay
Good News Bay
Nusha
C.Newenham
Kuskovim R.
PLAN OF EXPEDITION.
accompanied them thus far be left as hostages; but having acquired a good hold on the people, Glazanof re- solved to push on to the Kuskokvim, which he reached on the 19th of February. Here he was met by a party of natives returning to their homes from the Yukon. They told him that they had intended to visit Kolmakof, but that he had returned to the Nush- agak, leaving behind his interpreter Lukin. On the following day the expedition proceeded up the Kus-
552
THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY'S OPERATIONS.
kokvim, and on the 21st arrived at the village called Kvigym Painagmute, where they found Lukin in a log house built by Kalmakof. Glazanof was now in- formed of a portage route along a tributary of the Kuskokvim, from which it was possible in one day to reach a stream emptying into Cook Inlet, but he tried in vain to obtain guides to lead him in that direction. The natives assured him that several parties of their countrymen had been killed by the inhabitants of the intervening mountains, and Lukin confirmed these sensational reports, stating that he himself had failed in a similar attempt. Glazanof then resolved to pro- ceed alone, but being unacquainted with the country and having lost his compass, shaped his course too much to the north, and found himself involved in a network of lakes and streams without provisions, and in a country destitute of animal life at that season of year. His men were reduced to the most cruel straits, and obliged to eat their dog-harness, boots, and seal-skin provision bags. Finally, after wander- ing about until the 19th of March, they once more found themselves upon the banks of the Kuskokvim, and soon afterward met Lukin, who had returned from a journey into the mountains. Accompanied by him, and several friendly natives who furnished them with ample supplies, Glazanof's men at last regained the banks of the Yukon, and thence crossed over to the Mikhaielovsk settlement.32
In 1838, after Wrangell had been relieved from of- fice, an expedition was fitted out by the Russian Amer- ican Company to explore the arctic coast of America eastward from Kotzebue Sound. A creole named Alexander Kashevarof, a native of Kadiak, who was thoroughly conversant with various Innuit dialects, was appointed to command the force, the party, which was composed mainly of creoles and Aleuts, being
32 The time occupied by Glazanof in this remarkable journey was 104 days, and according to his calculation the distance traversed was 1,500 miles. Id., 152-60.
553
MALAKHOF AND SAGOSKIN.
taken northward on the brig Polyfem. The skipper, who was a Russian, Chernof by name, 33 was instructed to pass through Bering Strait, to proceed thence north- eastward as far as possible, and to land Kashevarof with one bidar and five three-hatch bidarkas at the furthermost point reached by the vessel. The Eskimos living on the coast opposed Kashevarof's progress, and as he advanced slowly through the shallow sea wash- ing the arctic shore, hostile bands began to gather in rapidly increasing numbers, until, when still a hun- dred miles west of Cape Beechey, the creole found himself compelled to turn back before an armed body outnumbering the explorers twenty to one. On his return journey, he was attacked at various times, but finally regained Norton Sound, where he found Chernof awaiting him.
In the same year, Malakhof ascended the Yukon River as far as the present site of Nulato, where he built a small block-house. In want of provisions, and with only two men, he was obliged temporarily to abandon the building and repair to Mikhaielovsk for supplies. During his absence the Indians living in the neighborhood burned the building.
In 1842 Lieutenant Zagoskin of the imperial navy set forth for Norton Sound and Mikhaielovsk, purpos- ing to make an inland exploration of the northern territory. His work was confined chiefly to the mid- dle course of the Kuskokvim, and the lower course and northern tributaries of the Yukon, especially the Koyukuk, which he followed to its head waters and to the divide which separates it from the streams running into Kotzebue Sound. At Nulato he was assisted by Derzhavin in building a new fort. Zagoskin's ex- ploration was performed conscientiously and well. Wherever we find mistakes, we may ascribe them to his imperfect instruments and to local obstacles. He gathered most valuable trading statistics for the com-
38 The sons of Chernof are now living on Afognak Island, engaged as ship- builders and navigators, and in comfortable circumstances.
554
THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY'S OPERATIONS.
pany, and ingratiated himself with all the tribes with which he came in contact. His expedition was not completed until 1844, when he returned to Russia to superintend the publication of his notes.34
It had been Wrangell's desire to explore the arctic coast of the Russian possessions, but complications constantly arising with the Mexican authorities in California required his personal attention. Figueroa, then governor of California, had addressed to him several letters, demanding the abandonment of the Ross settlement. The latter always had the excuse that he was not authorized to treat on so weighty a subject; but when the end of his term was approach- ing, he received news of Figueroa's death, and resolved to proceed homeward by way of Mexico, in order to negotiate with the authorities at the capital of the new republic, visiting on his way the Ross settlement. In the harbor of San Blas he met with the company's ship Sitka, having on board his successor, Captain Kupri- anof. To him he surrendered his office, and soon after- ward proceeded to Mexico. His negotiations with the Mexican government on behalf of the Ross colony and their failure are related in connection with my History of California.35
34 An account of this expedition will be found in Peshekhodnaia Opiss Chasty Russkikh Vladaniy v Amerika, Lieutenant A Zagoskin v 1842, 1843 i 1844 godakh, or Explorations on Foot of Parts of the Russian Possessions in America, by Lieutenant A Zagoskin 1842-4 (in two parts, St Petersburg, 1847). This work is a very complete description of the journeys undertaken by Lieutenant Zagoskin of the imperial navy in the service of the Russian
American Company, between 1842 and 1844. The field of his operations includes the territory north and east of Norton Sound and drained by the Yukon and Kuskokvim. The entries of Zagoskin's journal are given for the most part in full, with astronomical observations, etc., interspersed occasion- ally with historical sketches of various localities, and finishing with a review of all the native tribes which came within his observation, and very com- plete vocabularies of their respective languages. An excellent chart is appended to the work.
35 Vol. iv., cap. vi. The Statistische und Ethnographische nachrichten über die Russischen Besitzungen, or Statistical and Ethnographical Statements con- cerning the Russian Possessious, collected by Baron Wrangell, and edited by E. K. von Baer, appeared in 1839 as the first volume of a series published by the imperial academy of sciences at St Petersburg, under the title of Beiträge zur Kenntniss des Russischen Reiches, or Contributions to the Knowledge of the
555
TROUBLE WITH THE ENGLISH COMPANY.
During Wrangell's administration a serious dispute arose with the Hudson's Bay Company, which was then extending its operations over the whole north-west, establishing forts at every available point on river and sea-coast, and which a few years later entirely outbid the Russian American Company in the trade of the Alex- ander Archipelago. Taking advantage of the clause in the Anglo-Russian treaty of 1825, providing for the free navigation of streams crossing Russian terri- tory in their course from the British possessions to the sea, the English company had pushed forward its trading-posts to the upper course of the Stikeen, and in 1833 fitted out the brig Dryad for the purpose of establishing a permanent station on that river. Information of this design had been conveyed to Wrangell during the preceding year, and he at once notified the managers at St Petersburg, asking them to induce the imperial government to rescind the clause under which the Hudson's Bay Company intended to encroach on Russian territory. As a further motive for this request, he reported that the English company had violated the agreement to abstain from selling fire-arms and spirituous liquor to the natives. The emperor granted the petition, and the British and United States governments were duly notified of the fact. Both protested through their ministers at St Petersburg, but in vain; the reply of the Russian foreign office being that the objection- able clause would terminate in the following year. Without waiting to be informed of the success or fail- ure of his application, Wrangell despatched two armed vessels, under command of Lieutenant Dionysi Za- rembo, to the mouth of the Stikeen. Here the latter established a fortified station on a small peninsula,
Russian Empire. In the preface the question is discussed whether the Alas- kans were benefited or otherwise by the Russian occupation. The first three sections contain valuable statistical and historical information. Then follow linguistic studies by Wrangell and Kostromitinof, the journal of skipper Glazanof, the exploration of the Copper River, and the characteristics of the Aleuts, the last being by Veniaminof, and miscellaneous remarks by the editor.
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