268 AMERICAN COMMERCE IN THE PACIFIC. [1796 1814. 



several instances have occurred of the seizure of such vessels, and 

 the massacre of their whole crews, in this manner.* 



All the islands in the Pacific, and every part of the north-west 

 coasts of America, were visited by the vessels of the United States 

 in the course of these voyages. Their principal places of resort 

 were the Sandwich Islands, where they obtained fresh provisions, 

 and occasionally seamen from among the natives ; and the mouth 

 of the Columbia, Nootka Sound, and Queen Charlotte's Island, in 

 which they traded with the Indians for furs. They occasionally 

 touched at the ports of California, where they were, however, viewed 

 with great distrust by the Spanish authorities ; and they generally 

 made the tour of the Russian settlements, which derived from the 

 Americans, in this way, the greater part of their supplies of European 

 manufactures, ammunition, sugar, wines, and spirits, in exchange for 

 peltries. The furs were, as before, sold in Canton, at prices not 

 high, though sufficient to encourage a moderate importation ; but 

 they seldom formed the whole cargo of the vessels arriving there, 

 the remainder being composed of sandal-wood, and pearl and tor- 

 toise shells. 



The Sandwich Islands fell in succession under the authority of 

 Tamahamaha, who displayed admirable sagacity in his mode of 

 conducting the government, amid all the dangers and difficulties 

 arising from internal opposition and the constant presence of stran- 

 gers of various nations. Like the present pacha of Egypt, he was 

 not only the political chief, but also the chief merchant of his 

 territories : in his minor commercial operations he was generally 



* In 1805, the ship Atahualpa, of Rhode Island, was attacked by tne savages in 

 Millbank Sound, and her captain, mate, and six seamen, were killed ; after which 

 the other seamen succeeded in repelling the assailants and saving the vessel. In 

 March, 1803, the ship Boston, of Boston, while lying at Nootka Sound, was attacked 

 by Maquinna and his followers, who obtained possession of her, and put to death all 

 on board, with the exception of two men, who, after remaining in slavery four 

 years, effected their escape. In the same manner, the ship Tonquin was, in June, 

 1811, seized by the natives, at the entrance of the Strait of Fuca, and her whole crew 

 murdered in a moment, as will be hereafter more particularly related ; and other 

 instances of a similar nature might be cited. 



The account of the capture of the Boston, by John R. Jewitt, the armorer of the 

 ship, contains many curious details respecting the country around Nootka Sound, 

 and its inhabitants, as observed by the author during his residence there, from 

 1803 to 1807. This little work has been frequently reprinted, and, though seldom 

 found in libraries, is much read by boys and seamen in the United States. It presents 

 the last notices which have been found on record of Maquinna, for whom Jewitt 

 appears to have entertained a great admiration. 



