APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 261 



Kodiak. Tlic writer was at that time in tLe vicinity of Norfolk Sound, 

 and received this account from the Sitka Indians and from the officers 

 of the American vessels, some of wliom are now living: in Boston. But 

 iiad the conduct of tlie Americans been otherwise, we cannot admit that 

 any transactions in Norfolk Sound would support the charge of "exciting 

 revolt" in the '■'•liitssian possessions;^^ for the whole of her possessions 

 there are limited to tlie range of the cannon-shot of her fort. The 

 whole extent of coast from latitude 58°, to the Straits of Jnan de Fuca, 

 in 48°, is inhabited by numerous powerful and warlike tribes, perfectly 

 free and independent of Russian authority. Possessing in a high degree 

 the nobler traits of savage character, and devotedly attached to liberty, 

 they prize personal freedom more highly than life itself. 



The courage and constancy of tlie Sitka Indians, when attacked by 

 the Russians in 1804, is a striking instance of their intiei)idity and deep- 

 rooted love of independence, and warrants the conclusion that to secure 

 "the peaceable possession" of that country to Russia, something more 

 will be requisite than the '■^ Be it accord i ng I ij''' of her Emperor, or the 



arguments of her Envoy. The following is from the account of 

 37 that transaction by Lisiansky, who commanded the "Neva," a 



Russian ship of war, engaged in the expedition: 



In the afternoon of the 26tli a canoe, with three young men in it, canio alonnsido 

 the American ship.* Being informed that one of these youths was the son of our 

 greatest euemy, I could not resist the desire I felt to have him in my power; and the 

 moment the canoe left the " O'Cain" I dispatched a jolly-boat in pursuit of it; but 

 Ihe natives rowed so lustily tliat they outstripped the boat, and when our party 

 lired upon them they intrci)idly returned the lire, showing us thereby witli what 

 sort of persons we should have to deal. Again, ho (the Ambassador) was then 

 sent back with the same answer as before, that we re(iuired, as a necessary prelimi- 

 nary to pacification, that the Chiefs themselves should come to us. At noon we 

 saw" thirty men approaching, all having lire-arms. They stopped wlien at the dis- 

 tance of musket-shot from the fort, and commenced tlieir parley, which, however, 

 was quickly ternniiated, as they would not agree to a proposal made by M. Jiaratiofftliat 

 n-e slioitld he penniited to keep perpetual possession of the place at present occupied hy us, 

 and that tivo respectable persons should be given as hostages. On the conclusion of this 

 interview the savages, who were sitting, rose up, and after singing out three several 

 times, ''Oo, Oo, Oo!" meaning "End, end, end!" retired in military order. How- 

 ever, they were given to undervStand by our interpreters that we should instantly 

 move onr ships close to their fort (for their Settlement was fortilied by a wooden 

 fence), and they would have no one but themselves to reproach for any cousequences 

 that might ensue. 



On the Ist October we carried this menace into execution by forming a line with 

 four of our ships bL'fore the Settlomeut. I then ordered a white flas to be hoisted on 

 board tlie "Neva," and presently we saw a similar one on the fort of the enemy. 

 From this circumstance 1 was not without hope that something might yet occur to 

 prevent bloodshed; but finding no advances on their part I ordered the several ships 

 to fire into the fort. A launch and a jolly-boat, armed with a 4-pr., under the com- 

 mand of Lieutenant Arboosott', were then sent to destroy the canoes on the beach, 

 some of which were of sufficient burthen to carry sixty men each, and to set fire to a 

 large barn not far from the shore, which I supposed to contain stores. Lieutenant 

 Ariioosoff, finding he could do but little execution from the boats, landed, and taking 

 with him the 4-pr., advanced towards the fort. M. Baranoff, who was then on board 

 the " Neva," seeing this, ordered some field-pieces to be landed, and, with about 150 

 men, went himself on shore to aid the Lieutenant. The savages kept perfectly quiet 

 till dark, except that now and then a musket was fired off. This stillness was mis- 

 taken hy M. Baranoff, and, encouraged by it, he ordered the fort to be stormed, a pro- 

 ceeding, however, that had nearly proved fatal to the expedition, for as soon as the 

 enemy perceived our people close to their walls, they collected in a body, and fired 

 upon them with an order and execution that surprised us. The Aleutians who, with 

 the aid of some of the Company's servants, were drawing the guns along, terrified 

 at so unexpected a reception, tnok to their heels, while the commanders, left with a 

 mere handful of men belonging to my ship, judged it prudent to retire, and endeavour 

 to save the guns. The natives, seeing this, rushed out in pursuit of them, but our 

 sailors behaved so gallantly that, though almost all wounded, they brought off the 



•The American ship "O'Cain," of Boston, was then lying in Norfolk Sound. 



