December
THE WEST SHORE.
55
HISTORICAL ADVENTURES ON THE
PACIFIC COAST.
A CQNUDULABLX PLVaJtT AT XOOTKA.
HY MRS. F. F. VICTOR.
When the account of Cook's expedi
tion was published, much excitement
was occasioned thereby. Even before
the appearance of the journal, the value
of the fur trade that might be estab
lished between America and China was
pretty well understood, and several na
tions stood ready to profit by it. The
Russians, being already established on ( been found by which the obstacles to
the Northwest coast, were the hist to trade before mentioned, might be over
enter the trade. Then followed pri-jcome. This was the founding of a
vatc expeditions from various parts of I company under the style and title of
Europe, none of which were success- uKing George's Sound Company;"
ship-building. The next principal places
of resort were Norfolk Sound, Port
Gaudalupe, Prince William's Sound
and Cook's River. Many were the cu
rious incidents and adventures encoun
tered by the first traders who met with
more or less opposition from the na
tions; and very interesting arc their
observations on the habits and charac
ters of the aboriginal peoples with
whom they came in contact, before civ
ilization had modified either.
Meanwhile, in itSc, a means had
I Nootka Sound, which belonged, as he
reminded them, to his Catholic majesty.
To this demand Capt. Gray replied
i by showing his papers, and explaining
that after the hardships of a voyage
around the Horn, thev had put into
Nootka to refit; which answer seemed
entirely satisfactory to the Spanish
commander. In the same manner the
weather, the latter vessel put into port
on the island of Juan Fernandez, for
repairs in May, 17SS, at the very time
when the Spanish Government was
pursuing a course winch was to drive
intruders from the Pacific seas. The
presence of an American vessel in a
Spanish port was nothing especially
new or alarming: inasmuch as thev had
for several years been in the habit of Portuguese Captain of the lphigcuia
sailing quietly along the California Viana by name, and the supercargo
ful until 17S5. Whatever the profits
of the business, it was one that could
not be carried on without literally
"sailing under false colors."
For, be it remembered, the Partition
of the Ocean was still nominally in
force, so far as the Catholic powers
were concerned. It is true that the
other nations of Europe no longer re
spected the exclusive right of Spain to
the navigation of the Pacific; Spain
having to content herself if her undis
puted sovereignty over the territories
she claimed therein was respected. But
there was another obstacle to the free
navigation of the Pacific; one that
England, always fond of bestowing
almost sovereign power upon mercan
tile corporations, had herself placed in
the way of her own people. By act of
Parliament, the trade of the Pacific had
been divided between two commercial
companies, known as the East India
Company and the South Sea Company.
Under the then existing regulations,
and peculiar privileges of these compa
nies, no British subject, except those in
service or licensed by the South Sea
Company, could make expeditions for
trade or fishlnff to the West coast of
America, or to the seas or islands with
in three hundred leagues of it, proceed
Ins bv the wav of Cane Horn or the
Straits of Magellan.
By the same authority, no British
subjects, not licensed or employed by the
East India Co., could proceed by the
way of Cape of Good Hope to any seas
or lands east of this line of division for
purposes of trade or fishery. All Brit
ish vessels violating these regulations
were liable to confiscation, and their
officers to heavy penalties. By this
arrangement the East India Company
was prevented from engaging in the
fur trade, because its ships could not
approach the American coast; and by
the same law the South Sea Company
could not engage in it because its ves
sels could not approach the China coast
where the principal market was found.
In this exigency the East India Com
pany did not hesitate to take the risk
of infringing the rights of the South
Sea Company ; and more than once the
flag of the former was seen floating
over the seas belonging to the latter.
But it was the more usual practice for
British trailers to procure license from
the Portuguese authorities at Macao, and
to evade the restrictions of both compa
nies by taking refuge under papal au-
deriving its powers from both the other
companies, and whose object was to
monopolize the trade of the North Pa
cific coast and China. It was not until
these arrangements were perfected that
the British flag appeared in the waters
in connection with commerce, or that
an open attempt was made to lay claim
to any part of the Spanish territory in
the Pacific. Out of such an attempt
grew one of the most romantic passa
ges in the early history of the North
west. Spain had not been blind to the
movement set on foot to secure the trade
of the North Pacific; but she hail been
powerless to prevent it, and almost
equally powerless to contest it by re
maining as a commercial power upon
the seas she laid claim to. One unsuc
cessful attempt was made to secure to
herself the benefit of the commerce
with China, and abandoned. It was
not until 17SS that steps were taken to
inquire into the operations of foreign
vessels in the Pacific; but 111 March of
that year the Viceroy of Mexico having
received orders from the home govern
mcnt began to take active measures for
the protection of Spain's interests in
the Pacific.
Two vessels were dispatched from
San Bias, on a voyage of inquiry
the Praia-set, commanded by Estevar
Martinez, and the San Carlos, com
manded by Lieutenant Gonzalo Haro.
The vessels reached Prince William's
Sound without encountering unusual
delay, where they separated and ex
coast, briniriiiii cargoes of goods suited
to the Indians ami half-breeds of that
country, which they exchanged for car-
of hides and tallow, which the
immense herds ot Lahtorma maae
cheap and plenty; and without excit
ing any unfriendly comment.
The Columbia had on this occasion
a cargo of Indian goods, and was bound
for the fur country. Whether or not
the commandant at Juan Fernandez
knew that does not appear; hut at all
events he treated Capt. Kendricks with
great kindness and sent him 011 his way
in comtortahle repair, mil in some wav
the Viceroy of Peru learned the desti
nation of the Boston vessel, and com
municated the same to the Viceroy of
Mexico, Don Manuel de Floris; be
sides dismissing from office the good
natured but unlucky commandant, and
dispatching a ship from Callao to inter
cept the Columbia. Whatever adven. 1
tures befelthe pursuing ship, the Boston
trader saw nothing of her, and arrived
good time, as did also the sloop
Washington, both getting in before
the 20th Sept., 17S8.
But reports had reached the Spanish
Government in Mexico, and m the
spring of the following year Flores
fitted and dispatched on a second voy
age the Princesa and San Carlos.
Martinez and Haro commanders, with
orders to proceed to Nootka and es
tablish a fort. Their instructions were
to receive with the attentionand civility
required by peace and friendship any
Russian or English vessel that might
appear at Nootka, but at the same time
to declare the pai amount rights of his
Catholic majesty to the place, and the
adjacent coasts, firmly but discrcctcly,
and without using harsh or insulting
language.
On the 6th of May the corvette
plored the coast in opposite directions U'rtncesa, well manned MM euccuveij
for some time, when again meeting, equipped, entered the harbor of Nootka
they proceeded to Unalashka, the largest I to take possession of the country and
of the Aleutian Islands, where they re
mained the guests of the Russians from
the 30th of August to the iSth of
September. From the Russians they
learned that there were eight establish
ments belonging to them, all east of
Prince William's Sound, where
other one was then being erected.
Martinez also learned that they had
sent two vessels a few months before,
to found a settlement at Nootka Sound;
and that two large ships were building
at Ochotsk for the prosecution of the
fur trade. After this conference, how
ever, the Russians confined their ope
rations to the coast north ot 54 tleg.
jo min., except in the case of their set-
erect a fort. Her commander, Malt)
nez, found no settlement or establish-1
mcnt there; only several vessels be- j
longing to English and American
traders.
There is perhaps, no part of the
Northwest coast more charmingly pic
turesque than the shores of Vancou
ver's Island. Innumerable harbors,
coves, ami islands inoem 11s margin.
Its shores arc moderately high, and
covered with evergreen trees, with
little patches of rich green sward be
tween them. The rocks that crop out
of the banks arc clothed with mosses
and lichens of the most vivid tints,
while the calm blue surface of the wa-
tlcment on the California coast, which : tcr In these coves reflects the whole
thev maintained while the fur trade U
continued to he remunerative.
lively panorama like a picture.
Into such a quiet and beautiful bar
thority, and Killing under 1 ortuguese Meanwhile an American vessel waslbor Martinez brought his vessel
colors. Some of the vessels that were 1 wtff mt0 thc comhination of that May day, 1 7S9. He was alone, the
earliest engaged in this trade are cnu-, commercial and political elements draw- $am Cartas having fallen behind. He
mcrated in thc preceding chapter. logcther about Nootka, as the ccn- foun( yjng at Nootka thc ship Iphi-
By means of thiscoasting trade, mucn u.rof tnc North Padfe fur trade; and William Douglas, master, trail
information concerning wie i"'""" was destined to figure in a very consul
big from Nootka b) Macao; and the Col
umbia, in charge of Capt. Robert Gray
Kcndrick having gone on a voyage
up thc coast with the WaskingU
on the western side of thc continent ljj drama about to be enacted
was obtained, and very complete sur-1 lnerc This was the ship Columbia,
vevsof its shores were necessarily, if ! f Boston, lohn Kendrick, master.
incidentally made. I he most soutnern , belonged to a company of Boston 1 tr-dim. as she honed, from the same
port of thc fur trader was Nootka niercnants and had n contort, thc sloop I p,,rt l(, the same port. These vessels
Sound, as it also seems to have been a I asfington, Robert Gray, master. 1 rcCcivcd thc Princesa with thc uual
favorite one, on account of its milder --jic two vessels becoming separated in I compliments of meeting; and Martinez
climate, and thc facilities afforded for iounling Cape Horn, and thc Colum- j proceeded at once to examine their pa
Copyruhi in iiT, br u HamuH. All ngiiu faa being rather thc worse for rough I nvn, and to inquire their business in
of rtpubllablng rrwnrnl. 1
Douglas, who was the real captain,
represented that "being i:i distress,
having but little provisions, and in
rreat want of every necessary, such as
cables, anchors, rigging, sails, etc,"
they had put in to refit and that they
were in daily expectation of Captain
Meant, from Macao, who would lie
able to furnish them, when thev would
depart."
With this explanation also Martinet
expressed himseit satistieti, inougn sun
sequent events show ed that he was not.
A brief account of the manner in which
the South Sea and East India Compa
nies evaded each other's restrictions by
sailing under false colors has already
been given; and Marlines, who found
a Portuguese captain, and instructions
in the Portuguese tongue, from a Por
tuguese agent ia Macoa, probably un
derstood well enough the subterfuge.
But as the fpiigenia was really in dis
tress, and unfit to go to sea; and as the
San Carlos had not yet arrived to sup
port him in any action he might take,
he let things take their course.
He commenced without delay to
land bis stores, material and artillery
for thc erection of a fort, while thc of
ficers of thc several vessels, Spanish,
English and American, visited and
dined each other in the most fiiendly
fashion. What was the hill of fare of
these gentlemen, and whether the
Iphigcnia was able to oiler anything
better than salt horse to her guests,
must forever remain unanswered. It
is a matter of record that the American
captains hail helped Viana to some blip
plies, from which fact it may be infer
red that there was enough to cat, such
as it was. So friendly was thc feeling
cultivated, that Viana was enabled to
induce the Spanish commander to fur-
; nish him a sufficient outfit to get his
vessel ready for sea and t accept bills
on thc Portuguese merchant who was
rwner at Macao in payment.
Business was proceeding briskly tl1
Nootka when on the loth ot May, the
San Carlos, Captain Haro, arrived.
On the same day the American olhYers
came down from a point up thc Sound
named Mawhiuna.whcicthe Cotuml-iu
was lying, with the intention of paying
a visit to the Spanish commanders, and
everything appeared friendly and pleas
ant in the atmosphere of Nootka. I he
caplaln and supercargo of the Iphi-
genta were invited on hoard me rin-
cesaf but, presto, change! No sooner
were they where they were invited to
be, than Martinez, without fnrlhet rcr
mony exclaimed;
" Gentlemen, you arc my prisoners!
and your vessel is seized!"
" For what cause?" inquired Dmig-
las.
"Your papers are lad;" returned
Martinez. "They instruct you totake
all English, Spanish or Russian vessel,
of a force inferior to yours, and to send
or carry their crews to Macao, there to
be tried for their lives as pirates."
"Your interpretation of the papers is
ha I," retorted Douglas. "I do not un
derstand Portuguese, hut I saw a copy
of them in English, at Macao, which
maintained if I should he attacked by
any of those nations, to defend myself
and if I had the superiority, to send the
captains and crews to Macao, to answer
for thc insult they had offered."
Martinez, however, did not think the