COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 11 



countrymen in this and the neig'hbouring islands ; and with 

 reference to the continent north of Uualaska, Captain Cook 

 says : 



Both Ismyloif and the others affirmed, that they knew nothing of 

 the continent of America to the northward; and that neither Lieu- 

 tenant Syud, nor any otlier Russian, had ever seen it of late. . . . 

 From what we conhl gather from Ismyloff and his countrymen, the 

 Russians liave made several attempts to get a footing upon that part 

 of this continent, that lies contiguous to Ooualashka and the adjoin- 

 ing islands, but have always been repulsed by the natives ; whom they 

 describe as a very treacherous people. 



Captain Cook further observes: iijid., p.498. 



I found that he [Ismyloff] was very well acquainted with the 

 geography of these parts, and with all the discoveries that had been 

 made in them by the Russians. 



Ismyloff furnished Captain Cook with Charts, as to one ibid., p. 502. 

 of which he writes : 



The second chart .... comprehended all the discoveries made 

 by the Russians to the eastward of Kamtschatka, toward America; 

 which, if we exclude the voyage of Beering and Tscherikoif, will 

 amount to little or nothing. 



The writer says, in conclusion : ibid., p. 506. 



They assured me, over and over ai>ain, that they knew of no other 

 islands, besides those which were laid down upon this chart ; and that 

 no Russian had ever seen any part of the continent of America to 

 the northward, except that which lies opposite the country of the 

 Tschutskis. [The country of the Tschutskis here mentioned is the 

 western side of Behring Straits.] 



Captain Cook's view of the extent of the Russian 

 9 sovereignty on the American cost is likewise shown 



by his action in taking possession for Great Britain 

 at certain places along that coast. His instructions con- 

 tained the following clause: 



You are also, with the consent of the natives, to take possession, in Cook'a Vo;vage, 

 the name of the King of Great Britain, of convenient situations in vol. i, p. xxx'iv. 

 such countries as you may discover, tliat have not already been dis- 

 covered or visited by any other European Power; and to distribute 

 among the inhabitants such things as will remain as traces and testi- 

 monies of your having been there; but if you tind the countries so 

 discovered are uninhabited, you are to take jiossession of them for 

 His Majesty, by setting up proper marks and inscriptions, as first 

 discoverers and possessors. 



In pursuance of these instructions, Cook left a record of 

 his discovery on Kaye's Island, near Prince William Sound, ibid., vol. ii, p. 

 and landed and took formal posses.sion of the country in ^^ii,id., p. 397. 

 Cook's Inlet and at Cape Newenham, near the mouth of 

 the Kouskokvim River, in Bristol Bay. The last-named iwd., p. 433. 

 place is on the eastern shore of Behring Sea. 



The Pribyloft" Islands themselves were not discovered united states 

 until 1786 and 1787, and as late as ISl'l it appears to have ^Xd^iJ^en- 

 been unknown whether there were islands to the north- <iix, vol. i, p. 58. 

 ward ot them. 



