CHAP. V.]

CAMP MARKS.

63

The future explorer will have no trouble in finding our tracks, for at each camp the trees were "blazed," i. e:, marked with an axe, and an inscription affixed as represented below -the artistic part of the work being usually performed by the writer-painter, but not glazier, to the expedition.

CHAPTER VI.

ALASKA TERRITORY.

Acquisition of Russian America by the United States-American criticisms on the purchase - Coal and gold discoveries - Mock advertisements America for the Americans - Geographical literature of the Pacific Of Russian America - The Treaty - W. U. Telegraph Expedition Its organization - Preference for young men.

THE recent acquisition of Russian America by the United States Government is one of the events of our day. 400,000 square miles of territory have been, under the name of "Alaska,”* added to the already vast domain of Uncle Sam, and Russia has rid herself of an isolated possession of dubious value.

The purchase was not allowed to be completed quietly. On its announcement the people of the United States were, in fact, taken by surprise; there was much hostile criticism, and strong political opposition. That has now for the most part passed away, and American enterprise has begun to develop the resources of the country.† For some time,

*

By this purchase the U. S. Government has acquired also one of the largest mountains of the continent, Mount St. Elias.

+ Coal has been discovered at Cook's Inlet, and a recent newspaper paragraph (July 30th, 1868) tells us that "A party of explorers started some time back from the State of Oregon for the Skena River, in Alaska, and were subsequently reported to have been lost in a schooner in Queen Charlotte's Sound. The American consul at Victoria, Vancouver Island, now announces their safety, and adds that they state themselves to have discovered a rich gold-field in the Taquo River, where they are picking up

CHAP. VI.]

MOCK ADVERTISEMENTS.

65

indeed, Mr. Seward's position in regard to it—he being always considered the originator of the project-was anything but a desirable one. It was regarded as a bad business and as an unfortunate speculation, and was ridiculed as "our new possession of Walrus-sia."" Mock advertisementspurporting to come from the Secretary of State-appeared in the daily papers of New York and the large cities generally, offering the highest price for "waste lands and worn-out colonies," "submerged and undiscovered islands," icebergs, polar bears, volcanoes, and earthquakes, "provided they should not shake the confidence of the State Department." In the House of Congress it was made a party question, and therefore the colony was on the one hand described as the tag end of creation, and on the other as an Elysian field. Virtually there was, and is, little known about it; and the following pages must be regarded simply as an early and superficial contribution to our better knowledge of it.

There are, however, many, both in England and America, who look on this purchase as the first move towards an American occupation of the whole continent, and who foresee that Canada and British America generally, will sooner

the precious metal in lumps. This news is credited in Sitka, and every available craft is being brought into requisition to convey adventurers to the spot." Gold has been frequently obtained in the Stekine River, a large stream near the boundary line, running partly through British and partly through Russian America.

It has also been recently stated that a company was prepared to "take" Alaska, pay 10,000,000 dollars in gold to the United States Government (nearly 3,000,000 dollars over the sum to be paid to Russia), and leave the supreme authority to Congress. Their object was of course to trade for furs, mine, and otherwise develop the country.

F

or later become part of the United States. Looking at the matter without prejudice, I believe that it will be better for those countries and ourselves when such shall be the case. We shall be released from an encumbrance, a source of expense and possible weakness; they, freed from the trammels of periodical alarms of invasion, and, feeling the strength of independence, will develop and grow; and-speaking very plainly and to the point-our commercial relations with them will double and quadruple themselves in value. No one now supposes, that, had the United States remained nought but "our American colonies," they would have progressed as they have done; and it is equally obvious that our commerce with them must have been restricted in equal ratio. That it is the destiny of the United States to possess the whole northern continent I fully believe.

The geographical literature of the Pacific is abundant; but that part of it which has reference to Russian America is comparatively restricted. Müller's* narrative of the voyages of Bering and his companions deservedly heads the list. Bering and Tschirikoff may be fairly regarded as the discoverers of the country, and their names will ever be associated with the North Pacific. Immediately following their adventurous voyages, a number of Russian merchants of Eastern Siberia sent vessels from Ochotsk and neighbouring ports on trading excursions, mainly to the Aleutian Islands. "Within a period of ten years," says Coxe, their historian, "more important discoveries were made by these individuals at their own private cost, than had been hitherto

*

Muller's 'Voyages from Asia to America,' &c.

† Coxe's 'Russian Discoveries.'

CHAP. VI.] RUSSIAN AND OTHER EXPLORERS.

67

effected by all the expensive efforts of the Crown." Byron, Carteret, Wallis, and Cook follow next in chronological order; the latter especially helped to clear up the fogs that encompassed the coast. Cook's Inlet, Ounalaska, Norton Sound, and Bering Straits were all examined by the great circumnavigator.

Passing over the illustrious La Perouse, who explored portions of the N.W. coast, adjacent to Mount St. Elias, and several Spanish commanders who did next to nothing for Russian America, we come to our countryman Vancouver, whose laborious surveys have left their mark on the whole of the coast from San Francisco to Cook's Inlet, and whose great work deserves a fuller recognition from the public than it has ever yet received.

Russia has naturally done much towards the exploration of her colony; and some of her naval officers hold a deservedly high rank as geographers. Lisiansky, Kotsebue, and Lütke are names as familiar to men of science as to navigators. Among our own countrymen, Moore, Kellet, Collinson, and McClure, when engaged in the search for Sir John Franklin, also examined some portions of the coasts, while Captain Bedford Pim, who made some extensive land-trips, is well remembered at some of the (late) Russian posts. But, with the exception of the one visit paid by a Russian, Zagoskin, until our expedition commenced its work, the interior of the country had been little visited,

*

* Findlay's 'Directory for the Navigation of the Pacific Ocean' gives— up to the date of its publication-an exhaustive resumé of this subject. Although a little out of date, from the rapid development of the north-west coasts of America, it was used constantly on our vessels, and looked upon as an invaluable work on the subject.