The Spanish, like the British, realizing the importance of the area, hoping to solidify Spanish sovereignty in it, and aware of the movement of Russian explorers down the coast for sea otter pelts and lands to conquer, decided to build a fort at Friendly Cove. One expedition, commanded by John Meares, arrived in 1786 then in 1788, Meares built a small trading post at Friendly Cove. Many British expeditions, after Cook, arrived to trade with the Nootka. The Russians also recognized the political value of the area, but the Americans, while seeing political advantages, seemed interested in only its commercial viability. On departing, the owner of the vessels left John Mackay with Maquinna and thus Mackay became the first white resident of British Columbia.ĭuring this period both Spain and Britain sought to expand their colonial possessions and, as a result, Nootka Sound and the North Pacific region became important in the plans of both of them. Hanna’s second trip, on the Sea Otter, was not so successful because he had been beaten there by Captain Cook and the Enterprise which had bought up all the skins. In 1785, British Captain James Hanna from China in the Harmon became the first commercial fur trader to arrive in Nootka, the first of hundreds who would make their way to the West Coast as a result of the published accounts of Cook’s voyage. Unfortunately, Cook didn’t live to see the results of his findings: he had been killed in the Hawaiian Islands in February, 1779. This news particularly excited fur traders and Cook’s maps and observations helped open up the Pacific Coast to further trade and exploration. Once back in England, news spread of Cook’s expedition and the high prices paid in the Far East for their sea otter pelts. His illustrations provide a fairly accurate picture of both the dwellings and the way of life among the people at that time.Īfter almost a month in Nootka Sound, Cook and his ships left the area laden with furs and a better understanding of the Nootkan people. Repairs finished, Cook explored the rest of Nootka Sound, stopping at the Nootkan Village of Yuquot where John Webber, his shipboard artist, made water colour paintings of the sights and peoples. They used a trail from Tahsis up the Tahsis Valley to Woss Lake, then to the Nimpkish River and to Nimpkish Lake where they traded with East Coast Vancouver Island natives who in turn traded with groups on the Mainland. The presence of iron among the Nootkan people amazed both Cook and his men and the origin of this iron has never been traced, but may have come about through an overland trade route already established by the Nootka. In exchange they wanted knives, chisels, nails, buttons and any kind of metal. The Nootka offered various animal skins for trade, particularly the sea otter, but also offered such goods as carvings, spears and fish hooks. On March 31, Captain Cook anchored in Resolution Cove and while repairs on the ships continued, trading took place between the natives and Cook’s men. This meeting was the first cultural exchange in the area between one of the more powerful First Nation’s groups and Europeans. As Cook’s ships arrived the Nootka people came out to meet them in canoes. On March 29, 1778, in search of the Northwest Passage, Captain James Cook with two vessels, the ‘Resolution’ and the ‘Discovery’ sailed into Nootka Sound looking for a sheltered bay in which to make repairs. This exploration oversight would later prove costly to Spain. Because the Spanish did not actually land and then take formal possession, the British would not acknowledge Spanish sovereignty over the area. Here he traded with the First Nations people for furs, but made no landing. Early European Exploration in Nootka Sound In 1774 the Spanish became the first Europeans to sight the entrance of Nootka Sound. This was aboard the Santiago, out of Monteray and under Captain Juan Perez, anchored off Nootka at Estevan Point which he named Punta San Esteban after one of his officers Esteban Jose Martinez.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |