>794- twelve of thefe ftrangers, vifited the Ruffian encampment, and were wel-
v---- J-—> corned to the ffiore by a fong from the Kodiak Indians ; this compliment
being returned in the fame way, a conference took place ; in which
the native chief exerted his utmoft eloquence to point out the extent
of their territories, and the injuft'ice of the Ruffians in killing and taking
away their fea otters, without making them the fmalleft recompence.
After thefe grievances had been enumerated with great energetic force,
the chief fent a fea otter Ikin to Portoff, and on his accepting this pre-
fent, a löüd ffiout was given by both parties : this was followed by a
fong, which concluded thefe introduftöry ceremonies. The vifitors now
landed, and were condufted to the encampment, where the friendly reception
they mét with, induced the chief to difpatch his canoe; with fuch
information to the reft of his tribe, that they foon repaired to point
Turner; and after fimilar ceremonies of fongs and dancing, thefe like-
wife landed, amounting to about fifty, in whofe poffeffion were fix excellent
mulkets, kept in the higheft order, and each had a large iron dagger
that hung from his neck in readinefs for immediate fervice.
But as no confidence could be placed in their profeffions of friendfhip,
fo large a party excited in Portoff the moft ferious apprehenfions for the
fafety of his people, efpecially, as the native Indians took up their abode
in the vicinity of his encampment; and although at that time it contained
nearly nine hundred, whilft the number of the natives did not amount
to morë'than feventy perfons, amongft whom, were fome women and
boys, yet he greatly dreaded an attack; being confcious that the major
part of his people would be unequal to refill the impetuofity of fo daring
and defperate an adverfary.
Mr. Puget relieved Portoff of his diftreffing folieitude by the ftrongeft
affurances, that fö long as the Chatham remained in his neighbourhood,
he might, in the event o f an attack, depend on every affiftance in his
power to afford, as alfo in the exertion of his beft endeavours, to gain
thefe ftrangers more over to the intereft of the Ruffian party. Thefe
offers were received by Portoff with marks'of the moft lively gratitude,
as he had confidèrèd his fituation as being extremely critical, but was
now, from Mr. Puget’s affurances of prote&ioh, made perfeótly etify;
’and
and for the purpofe of preferving the good underftanding that appeared Jggp
to have taken place, he diftributed amongft his vifitors fome large and >----
final! blue beads, with fheet copper, and bracelets made of that metal.
This meafure appeared to have its defired effect, as the chief and his party
feemed to be well pleafed, and foon after they all retired from the encampment,
apparently well fatisfied with their reception. The trivial articles
given by Portoff, were the only/pecies of merchandize the Ruffians
had with them ;, even thefe, had been brought in very fmall quantities ;
and it: would appear that they were very inadequate to the purchafe of
furs from the tribes or nations, in the more fouth-eaftern parts of this
coaft; but a commercial intercourfe with the native inhabitants of
North Weft America to the eaftward from prince William’s found did
not appear to be an obje£t of the Ruffian purfuit.
Late in the evening, Portoff acquainted Mr. Puget, that the Difcovety
was coming round the point; a gun was immediately fired, and Mr. John-
ftone difpatched in the cutter; but the veffel under fail foon appeared
like a galiot, and was fuppofed to be a Ruffian, until the return of Mr.
Johnftone about four in the morning, who had found the veffel to be the
Jackall, which anchored near point Turner. Here Mr. Johnftone
learned, that.flie had parted from the Difcovery the preceding afternoon,
and that fhe had after that time been driven fome leagues to the eaftward.
As Mr. Puget did not receive by this veffel any letter or meffage, he
Hill fuppofed that I Ihould return t0 port Mulgrave, to wait a more favorable
opportunity for profecuting the furvey of the coaft. The weather
ftill continued in the fame unfettled ftate until the evening, when
the Clearing of the weftern Iky ftrongly indicated a favorable change.
In the morning of the 5th the whole party o f native Indians quitted port
Mulgrave, and left the Ruffians in quiet poffeffion of point Turner.
Before their departure, their number had gradually increafed to an hundred
and upwards. The feveral chiefs had occafionally vifited Mr.
Puget, who made them all prefents of fuch articles as were by them confi-
dered valuable, and were well accepted. Mr. Puget mentions alfo, that
after an amicable intercourfe had been eftablilhed between the two. parr
H h 2 - ties,